
Class 
Book.. 



4 : 



Copyright^* 



CQEffilGHT DEPOSED 



LETTERS FROM ROT, OR 
THE SPIRIT VOICE 



BY 



LEON H. STEVENS 



BEING A SERIES OF MESSAGES RECEIVED 
DURING DAILY COMMUNICATION WITH 
LEROY S. STEVENS, WHO PASSED TO 
SPIRIT LIFE ON MARCH THIRTIETH, 1916 



TfRjSTOPjlE^ 

PUBLISHING 
HOUSE 

BOSTON 



.Si 



Copyright, igi7 by 
The Christopher Publishing House 



/ 



o*. 



NOV -3 1917 
©CU476919 



LNTKODUCTION. 

Fechner, in his wonderful little vol- 
ume, "The Little Book of Life After 
Death," divides life into three periods. 
The first, previous to birth, being of 
complete rest, darkness and develop- 
ment; the second, between birth and 
death being alternate light and dark- 
ness, activity and repose ; the third, fol- 
lowing death (in reality the second 
birth) being continuous activity and 
Eternal light. 

What greater comfort could you, who 
have seen death's gates close, hiding 
from your view the ones you love, desire 
than the knowledge that in the great 
plan of the Universe the Creator has 
made it possible for mortal minds to 
render themselves receptive to the in- 
fluence of those who have entered the 
Celestial life. 

"What our experience has been, yours 
may be, and to this end this record is 
placed before you, not as a literary 
effort, but a plain and truthful state- 
ment of actual experiences; of daily 



6 INTRODUCTION 

communications received by us, through 
the simple method of the Ouija board. 

We attribute the success attending 
our efforts to the extreme care taken to 
preserve at each sitting perfect har- 
mony, and a Spiritual atmosphere. It 
has been proven that Scripture reading 
is a very necessary item, and good mu- 
sic is also a great help in bringing the 
best influences. 

While, as stated above, this is a true 
record, it is by no means complete, 
because there have been innumerable 
messages received which would have no 
interest for the public, concerning 
simply family affairs. Enough person- 
al material, however, has been used to 
prove that our loved ones and friends 
on the other side take as much interest 
in our daily affairs as they could while 
in the body, and perhaps more. 

Exceptions may be taken to parts of 
the record, which may seem light, and 
perhaps of a trifling nature, but our 
purpose in giving them, in addition to 
the Spiritual Truths and messages, is 
that stated in the foregoing paragraph. 

Just a few words to make the situa- 
tion clear concerning the family. Fa- 
ther, mother and older brother in earth 



INTRODUCTION ( 

life; Leroy, the younger brother, who 
lias had the direct charge of giving the 
messages from Spirit life, and younger 
sister, in Spirit. 

Leroy was twenty years and ten 
months old last March, when he was 
suddenly taken. The little sister had 
passed on at birth, and is now between 
thirteen and fourteen years old. 

Regarding those who may read these 
pages, doubting that it is possible to 
receive such accurate messages, even 
though they do acknowledge belief in 
the Life beyond the grave — we had to 
be convinced, just the same as anyone 
else, and if they cannot find something 
which removes their doubt, it will not 
be our fault, because we shall try to in- 
clude everything which could in any 
way help to convince them. 

We did not think of putting the mes- 
sages in book form, until Leroy told us 
to do so, as he said it was the only way 
he could reach some people. We are 
very glad, however, to do our little part 
in taking away the fear of death, and 
putting in its place the hope of a far 
greater life to come. 

Where names have been given, we 
have in most cases used initials, but if 



8 INTRODUCTION 

they are recognized, we will be very 
glad to give further information to 
those concerned, as the material which 
is too personal has been omitted, for 
obvious reasons. 



LETTEBS FKOM EOY. 

On March 30th, 1916, at 7 :30 P. M., 
Leroy Sylvan Stevens passed to the 
larger life. At that time we were liv- 
ing in Taunton, hut our plans had heen 
laid to move to Boston shortly. We 
had arranged the week before, to pass 
the papers for the purchase of a house 
in Mattapan, near Boston, Mass. Boy 
had been in to see the house on the Sun- 
day before he was taken, and had pick- 
ed out his room. Our reasons for men- 
tioning this house will be seen later on 
in the record. 

Our plans were then given up, and, 
being anxious to get away from our 
present surroundings, we hurriedly 
moved to a house in Dorchester, Mass. 
Although a good location, it proved to 
be very noisy, day and night, which did 
not take away any of our homesickness, 
and "Lost" feeling. 

Mother had always been a firm be- 
liever in the close linking together of 
the two lives, and had talked some with 
Roy on the subject. The father and 



10 LETTERS FROM ROY 

older brother, while not doubting, still 
did not take up the matter with as much 
interest, until having such good cause 
to do so. 

It was on April 13th, that mother re- 
ceived her first message, that is, the 
first of which she was sure. That was, 
for her to go to Melrose Cemetery, at 
Brockton, Mass., where our lot is lo- 
cated, instead of to Boston, as she had 
planned. This was the first time she 
had dared go there since the funeral, 
not being sure of herself. While there, 
we met the man of whom we later 
bought the stone for the grave, and 
whom, it was later on found, was the 
one with whom Boy wanted us to deal. 

It was nearly the last of April, when 
we decided to get a Ouija board, to try 
and find out if it were possible to com- 
municate with any one on the other 
side, through that means. 

On April 28th, early in the evening, 
we sat down quietly, and waited. There 
was no sign whatever for about ^ve 
minutes, when, very slowly, the small 
table started to move. In a moment or 
two, the words "Are you happy? I am." 
had been spelled. 

We hardly dared ask the next ques- 



LETTERS FROM ROY 11 

tion, but, after doing so, as to whom it 
was, very slowly came tlie answer 
"Roy." 

That was enough. We ourselves were 
satisfied, but it remained for the mes- 
sages received daily since that time to 
add proof upon proof for those who 
might not believe. Of course such a 
sudden and startling discovery un- 
nerved the mother, and the next mes- 
sage was "Please do not cry." After 
this, the board commenced to move fast- 
er, but for a few moments there came 
nothing but a jumble of letters. Sud- 
denly it seemed to get straightened out, 
then came, "Later I will give more." 
A favorite slang expression of his was 
"Xuf Ced." He closed the evening's 
sitting with "I am O K. Xuf cecl. Good 
bye." 

The next morning, upon sitting down, 
the question was asked, "Where shall 
we get flowers for Melrose?" The an- 
swer came "E A X." This was evident- 
ly an abbreviation for Eandolph. 

We did as directed, and found a flo- 
rist there, unknown to us, without 
whom we would have had considerable 
difficulty in getting flowers to the ceme- 



12 LETTERS FROM ROY 

tery, because it was rather out of our 
way from where we then lived. 

This same morning, he said, "Nurse 
was O K." Which was very true. Ques- 
tion — Did you know you were going? 
Answer — "Tried to raise five times." 
This was noted at the time he was lying 
unconscious, when it was thought he 
was going to have convulsions. 

That evening, sitting at 7:45 P. M., 
the question was asked, "Is anyone 
helping you to run this board?" Ans. 
"Uncle Ed a lot. I do part." 

Ed is his uncle, on his mother's side. 

Question by mother. Do you like 
our room, Koy? Ans. "Pretty slick, 
yes." This was also a pet expression 
of his. 

Sunday afternoon, April 30th. The 
message came — "Boy Sutton. Try 6." 
This was found to mean that Eoy had 
gone to Sutton, N. H., where we have 
relatives and friends, and to try again 
at six o'clock. 

Sitting at 6 P. M. Father asked a 
mental question, which was answered 
"Yes." This is one of the simplest ways 
of proving to anyone who doubts. Let 
him ask any question, having the same 
clearly in his mind, and it will be an- 



LETTERS FROM ROY 13 

swered correctly on the board. No 
matter what it is, it has never failed us 
vet. To those who may try to explain 
it by tk mind reading", etc., we have 
ample proof to the contrary, as will be 
seen later on. 

To get back to the messages. The 
mental question father asked was, as 
he afterwards told us, "Are you happy 
where you are?" (The answer to the 
question was given three times, for em- 
phasis.) 

Xext, he was evidently trying to say 
something about "Judea," which I aft- 
erwards found was the subject of a ser- 
mon that I had intended to hear that 
same night, but gave it up. 

May 1st, very little was given, and 
after a short session he said, "Sit again 
tomorrow at 7." 

May 2. The first message was, "You 
three tell others." Then — "Aunt G. . . 
will tell you something tomorrow." 
This referred to something very inter- 
esting concerning another relative of 
the family. Not knowing of this mes- 
sage at the time, she did just as he said 
she would. Question — Where have 
you been today? Ans. "Taunton." 
Question — Whom did you see particu- 



14 LETTERS FROM ROY 

larly? Ans. "Mr. T . . . " Question. Did 
he realize it? Ans. "I think so." 
The dates which are missing are those 
on which there was simply something 
given of personal interest to the family. 

May 4th. "Sister, she's pretty. You 
watch for messages from us any time." 

Q. How do you like that life as com- 
pared to ours? 

Ans. "Not to be mentioned." (Used 
as an idiomatic phrase). 

May 5th. Eeference was made to 
the passing of time, and the message 
came, "Time is not in this life." 

Q. How about people in this war? 
Ans. "Sad. You ought to see." 

May 6th. "Justice must rule." At 
this point we were talking about Mr. 
G. . . S..., the Choirmaster of the 
Church where Roy belonged, who was 
taken just seven weeks before Roy. 
Mrs. Stevens remarked that she was 
afraid that he might have taken Roy, 
because they were such good friends. 
The message came, "No, he did not, he 
only helped others." 

Q. Have you any special Church you 
would like to have me attend? 

A. "We will show you. You will 
meet Roy, Fred, and Will there." 



LETTERS FROM ROY 15 

I must get aliead of my story a little 
here, and say that the first person I met 
at the Church where I am now going, 
was the Fred referred to, now a neigh- 
bor of ours, who, the first day he knew 
me invited me to join the choir, to which 
he belonged, at this Church in M. . . 
I am not well acquainted there yet, and 
do not know the others. 

Q. Have you f oimd that little boy who 
lived on C. . . St., and was shot last 
winter? Ans. "Yes. I am with him 
sometimes." "I am going to wake folks 
up." 

May 7th. (From now on he often 
opens the session with some verse of 
Scripture.) "Search the Scriptures. 
'What I tell ye in darkness, that speak 
ye in the light.' " 

Q. I should like to know what your 
life is like. 

Ans. "Something like vours, much 
better." 

Q. Are there any animals in your 
life? Ans. "All Life." "D. . . is here." 
Q. What D. . ? Ans. "D. . E. ." (Nam- 
ing a man connected with the family on 
the mother's side, some years ago.) 

Q. Eoy, does Billy (the cat) know 
when you are around? Ans. "A lot." 



16 LETTERS FROM ROY 

"Every time you sit you will find it 
clearer." 

Q. How do you learn to run the 
board? Ans. "Uncle Ed. . ." 

May 9th. "You will learn great 
Truths if you try for them. Drop mate- 
rial things when you try this board. 
There will be strange happenings. I 
have tried to tell you before. Ma has 
known, but she did not know what they 
meant. W. . . is one of the best ones 
in it. Truth must win. By and by you 
will see why. Great Powers are at 
work. It is not one person. It is for 
God." 

"P . . . misses me. I try to make him 
know." 

Q. Shall I tell him? Ans. "Yes, you 
will, but do not try to hurry things." 
I was not instructed to tell him, until 
March 18, 1917. 

May 10th. "This is great. I have 
something new all the time." 

Q. Have you seen Miss P . . . yet? 
Ans. "She is taking care of little boys." 

"Young S . . . is around his home a 
lot." (Naming a young boy who was 
killed by lightning.) 

"We all want to be good natured. 



LETTERS FROM ROY 17 

Your life is the only one that has sor- 
row." Q. Why? Ans. "Adam." 

Please note the above bit of truth. 
When one stops to think of it, it is a 
tremendous amount of truth expressed 
in one word. 

"I go and come when I want to. If I 
am not here you know how to call me. 
I am glad you opened my eyes." (Eef er- 
ring to his mother having made him ac- 
quainted with this subject.) 

"Uncle H . . . will brace up. He 
hasn-t had any spirit for anything 
since I changed." (I remember a pause 
before this word, as if he was thinking 
just what to say, it being the first time 
mentioned. ) 

Q. Are you going to Mrs. M. . .'s to- 
night? (Xaming a medium.) Ans. "If 
she doesn't know I am there it won't be 
mv fault." 

May 12th. "C. . . is with me a lot. 
Railroad men, he says." 

C . . . was a railroad conductor, killed 
some ten or twelve years ago. Hoy had 
worked on the railroad for about four 
months before passing away, and was 
much interested in railroad men and 
happenings. 



18 LETTERS FROM ROY 

Q. Do you have as good a time there 
as here? Ans. "Clean and better." 

"A dear Shaker lady is one of our 
teachers. Aunt Sarah." 

"Great, ma. I can do all I want to 
now. People do queer things." 

May 13th. Here he quotes Mrs. Stev- 
en's father. "Have faith. All will be 
made right. Faith, Hope, and Love. The 
greatest of these is Love. You are go- 
ing to see much. I am making it as 
plain as you will let me. Watch. Stand 
fast. You could deal with great things 
for human beings. 

"The Springtime of Eternal Youth. 
Simple plain Quaker ideas were near- 
est to our Father's of any." 

"S. . . W. . .. He did not know for 
some time that he was in this life." 
Naming a boy he used to know who was 
drowned in Taunton. 

May 14th. "Taunton is nice today. 
Was there this morning." Eeference 
was made here to some pictures of him. 

"They don't look like me. That was 
not me. You all think death is such an 
awful thing. It is Life." 

May 15th. "I am glad ma is begin- 
ning to see me as I am." 



LETTERS FROM ROY 19 

Q. How do you like this place where 
we are living? 

Aiis. "You will get something better 
when we get ready." 

Q. Move again, Roy? Ans. "When 
Ave get ready you will be there before I 
am. It's great. You have got to get 
ready for business." 

Q. What business? Ans. "King's. 
Railroad makes a chap want to. 

"You must take time for this every 
day. There is much that would inter- 
est you all in this life when you are 
ready for it. 

"It is all Love and Truth. Everyone 
has got to bow his head to Truth and 
Love. You can see why we are busy. 

"I have got all you are ready for since 
I came. 'If ye forgive man, even so will 
God forgive you.' " 

May 18th. "Don't forget that He 
will give His angels charge over thee. 
You know the rest. You can always 
rely on our Father's word. You will 
find yourselves leaning more and more 
on Him. So 'Trust and Obey' " 

"Do you find things changed, Leon? 
I am with you when you want me. You 
have double strength. Keep your 
courage up. Better things coming. 



20 LETTERS FROM ROY 

You'll be surprised." I surely have 
been, many times in the past year. 

Here we spoke of a Mrs. E . . . , who 
passed away about four years ago. 

"She is the one who told me where I 
was. She is fine." 

May 20th. " 'They that seek me early 
shall find me.' Your life is the only 
false one. So glad you can use this 
board. Better than games. Takes the 
poison out of the sting. (He used to be 
very fond of sitting and playing games 
at home.) You said, ma, that your 
boys would be all right in May. We 
are ! Just listen to us. We're messen- 
gers. 'In the midst of life we are in 
death.' This life is so much beyond 
yours that you must try not to think of 
me as being dead, ma. 

"Try and think, not of the physical 
but spirit. A change to real life that 
everyone has to go through. Helen 
Keller is not as blind as many folks 
who have good eyes. I shall change or 
grow right along. You must grow with 
me or you will not prosper. Uncle E . . . 
says he is going to church. (With 
Leon. ) He says don't you laugh. You 
take the ones who didn't know how they 
looked from the inside. 



LETTERS FROM ROY 21 

"We have some fine persons to learn 
of. It seems so good to do all we want 
to and not get tired. 

"The railroad men are many over 
here. They are interested just the 
same. J. K. K. is one fine soul." 

May 22. Keference made to the pleas- 
ures he has earned and can now enjoy 
in that life. a A treat you can all have 
when you get your work done, which is 
not yet, you can see. I could do more 
from this side. A . . . He says tell your 
mother we helped show Koy up. You 
do not need to feel sad about me. He 
says I could not leave you because you 
need me, and I do not want to." 

May 24th. "There are no dead. All 
is life. I should not have wanted to 
leave them if I had known how they 
felt. They would not have known if 
they had not felt so bad before we 
went." 

This seems to refer to our friends be- 
fore we moved to Boston. "Aunt An- 
nie says you will have to learn patience. 
She teaches it. There are many more 
here than there, that you know, ma." 

May 25th. " 'Forgive us our debts as 
we forgive our debtors.' I try to make 
you folks realize lots of times. It seems 



22 LETTERS FROM ROY 

so easy. You make it harder than you 
need to. 

"Sunbeam is her name." Q. Sister? 
Ans. "Yes." "She is with me most of 
the time." 

May 26th. "I am very happy and 
want you to be. You will if you put 
yourself out and let Spirit take posses- 
sion. Were you surprised to hear of 
it?" He referred to the passing away 
of Eev. Dr. II . . , very suddenly. Q. He 
must have felt something that Sunday? 
Ans. "No more than I did. He felt 
strange, but not unhappy." 

This minister referred to gave a most 
beautiful sermon the Sunday night 
before he passed away, and as I remem- 
ber it, was in an unusual mood that 
Sunday night. 

"Convince Mrs. W. . . if possible. 
There is more I can tell later. Mr. S . . 
is right in his glory now. So gentle and 
grand." 

Q. Can you tell us anything of his 
work? Ans. "You ask me a great deal. 
Teaching might answer partly." 

Q. by Mrs. Stevens. Am I right in 
my ideas of those things which come to 
me? Ans. "I give them to you. It is 
so wonderful, ma. You would be satis- 



LETTERS FROM ROY 23 

fied. Uncle Ed says you folks are 
doing line. Edna is just the same. You 
ought to see grandmas and grandpas. 
Like children, so happy." 

May 27th. "If people in earth life 
would stop and do some thinking. Aunt 
Sarah says that is the only way. You 
have hope now, ma, because you know 
it is me.'' 

May 29th. "T.. B.. calls me Sun- 
days. (Xaniing a man in New Hamp- 
shire. ) That country is great now. 

"You must keep calm. Just trust 
Him." 

Q. What is C. . . doing? Ans. "Busy 
all the time. The old K.E. men are so 
interested in E.R. men in your life. 
Melrose looks fine. We have a fine place. 
You are never alone, ma. G-o to Mrs. 
R ? s developing circle." 

June 2. "Uncle L . . says are you pre- 
pared? You got it right this time, ma. 
The spirit world will never fail you. 
You have more faith in them than any 
one else. Was in your office today, 
dad. Gr. . . thinks you will get over 
this. Xot if I can help it." 

June 4th. "Just go right along, in 
faith believing, and trust in God. It 
may seem dark sometimes, but, when 



24 LETTERS FROM ROY 

so, don't forget Spirit is there. 'And 
they that worship Him must worship 
Him in Spirit and in Truth.' 'They 
that seek me early shall find me.' He 
was all right, wasn't he, Leon?" (Kef er- 
ring to a certain minister.) 

"September 1. Aunt J... makes a 
change." This came true, and she was 
not told of this message until many 
weeks afterward, that is, after she 
made the change. 

June 5th. "Capt B . . . says some- 
times you shut us all out. Must keep 
your courage up, all the time looking 
for the good that we want to bring." 

June 8th. "Great times for you, 
Leon. You have got to be Leon and 
Roy," 

June 10th. "J... R... feels sober 
every time he passes the house. Don't 
see why. If he could see me now I think 
his eyes would come open." 

Q. Why do mediums so often have 
Indian guides? 

Ans. "They are most natural." 

"Don't lean on anybody. Stand on 
your own feet. Thinking never hurt 
anyone yet. Talking can. Sunbeam 
is around you all the time, ma." Q. 
Whom does she resemble? Ans. "Ma." 



LETTERS FROM ROY 25 

Q. Dark or light liair? Ans. "Brown. 
She made me tell B . . about her. (Three 
nights before he passed over.) Some 
day you must tell them all the things I 
have told you. You want to hurry and 
get ready to come. You must find out 
things for yourself. You have got 
enough to help you listen." 

June 12th. "I am glad I made you 
realize who Robert is. He is one of the 
finest. I am so glad you know Sun- 
beam. When I have work you are not 
a lone. " 

June 13th. "Sunbeam is one of the 
sweetest singers I ever heard. Gr. . . 
says the sweetest. You know he told 
me not to get my mind on girls, but he 
is changing his ideas. She is so happy 
she sings all day long. Tell them quiet- 
ly I have not gone, when they give you a 
chance. Aunt Sarah says it is time. 
Glad, so glad, ma, you are my allies. 
Sometime you will understand. Wake 
these R.E. men and you will waken 
great numbers.*' 

June 14th. "Just be patient, trust- 
ing in your Master, and you will see. 
I want you all to do your best." 

June 15th. "Accident, Broadway, 
Taunton." This was a serious automo- 



26 LETTERS FROM ROY 

bile accident, which he told us of at 
almost exactly the time it happened. 
"Ma, I tried to make you get up and 
write." She had wakened the night 
before with a beautiful story running 
through her mind, but did not get up 
because she thought she could remem- 
ber it all right until morning, but it 
was gone then. 

June 16th. "You must read P . . G . . 
till you can't forget. You forgot to- 
day, ma." Because she had been rather 
discouraged and down-hearted. 

June 17th. "E. . . M. . . Saw him, 
and made him think he saw me. This 
is the life for me. ( This was a common 
joking expression of his before he 
passed over.) If I had been kept in 
the body I should have been in an acci- 
dent. I was glad when I got home, and 
wanted all home. Aunt Nellie planned 
the best for you. Was home all day to- 
day. I can stay all day when I want to. 
You have only to think of me to get me. 
Wait till I get things as they are going 
to be. Wish I could tell you about this. 
I know it is about all you think about. 
Trust and obey. You would not be 
happy there now, ma. It was all 
planned." This evidently refers to our 



LETTERS FROM ROY 27 

old hoine, from which we moved imme- 
diately after his going. 

June 18th. "Behind the clouds the 
sun is shining. Into each life some rain 
must fall. Now what do you think of 
S...?" 

An explanation is due on the fore- 
going. It is a general custom for him 
to give a great many names on the 
board, and during the past week he had 
given the name S . . . two or three times, 
without comment on it. We our- 
selves wondered if she were ill. On the 
18th 1 went to Taunton, and on my way 
to church noticed a wreath on the door 
of the house where S . . . lived. They 
being friends of ours I finally decided 
that I had better make inquiries. I 
went to the door, and found that the 
mother of the family had passed away 
very suddenly on the 16th, without ill- 
ness. It seems that he is allowed to 
tell us just so much, and no more. 

"I could tell you some things, but 
Aunt Sarah says not yet." 

Q. Did I tell too much today? Ans. 
"You told what we let you." "You can- 
not keep G. . . and I quiet. You must 
put people to thinking. Keep your 
eyes and ears open. 'What I tell ye in 



28 LETTERS FROM ROY 

darkness that speak ye in the light.' 
Ma, what would we have done if you 
had not known all that you know about 
this." 

June 19th. "'Mark that day lost 
whose low descending sun sees from thy 
hand no worthy action done.' Patsy." 
This Patsy was a former employe of the 
railroad, in a small position. The men 
used to make considerable fun about 
him, not realizing that he felt it keenly. 
We have since found out what a change 
has come over him, in the change from 
physical to Spiritual life. When his 
name was given, Mr. Stevens referred 
to the attitude formerly taken toward 
the man. "He has cried over that 
man}^ times." This incident is given 
because it has its lesson for all. We 
never know what wonderful spirit may 
be contained within a poor crippled or 
weak body. 

"We work together good, don't we?" 
Q. Any way we can help? Ans. "Aunt 
Sarah says, help yourselves is the best 
way." "Keep busy as we want, and 
you will be well." 

June 21. "You're doing fine. That's 
what they all say. Aunt M . . says you 
ought to have done it years ago." 



LETTERS FROM ROY 29 

June 22. "Sunbeam helped you pick 
out your clothes. Aunt N . . . sa} r s she 
will not get any if we don't get them 
now." This referred to a time some 
few weeks before Koy passed away, 
when Mrs. Stevens had her clothes 
made ready for Spring. It was certain- 
ly true. She would not have had the 
courage to bother with them if it had 
not already been attended to. 

"I told you about F . . . You would 
pity him. Lost in this life. He wants 
to make amends as soon as possible. 
Xo one wants him, he says. He might 
have been a power for good, Aunt Sarah 
tells me." 

F . . . was an atheist, a very magnetic 
personality and interesting speaker. 
He passed away about a year ago, and 
evidently must make amends for the 
wrong which he did here in spreading 
his belief. It is not our intention in 
this work to favor any one belief, or to 
speak against any, but one may gather 
from the above the attitude taken on the 
other side towards an atheist. 

"Sunbeam is too cute. She is so dif- 
ferent now, because she can make you 
know. She makes us all laugh. Mr. 
C . . . thinks she is the best ever." 



30 LETTERS FROM ROY 

June 25th. "You are teaching kin- 
dergarten now, ma. (Mother remarked 
she did not want to. ) Not for my sake? 
They will listen to you now, ma, be- 
cause they know it is not you. A. . . is 
going to church too, this morning. He 
says he has been waiting to get a call 
from you long enough. (A. . is a good 
natured old gentleman, a good friend of 
ours, who likes to visit us occasional- 
ly. His remark about waiting for a 
call is evidently a joking one referring 
to my failing to ask him to go to church 
with me. ) 

"Sunbeam has made you laugh lots of 
times when you did not know why. She 
made you laugh that Tuesday, she was 
so pleased that I was going." (We had 
company on Tuesday of the week be- 
fore the one during which he was taken, 
and were feeling exceptionally happy, 
because we were going to our new home, 
as we thought. ) 

June 26th. "We are very glad she 
(Mother) can laugh. We thought she 
had forgotten how. Uncle Ed says 
you will laugh if he has anything to do 
about it. You will all hear from me 
this week so you will notice. Tell J . . 



LETTERS FROM ROY 31 

for me that I am very happy. Uncle 
Ed says F. . wants von to write. 55 

June 27th. "It will not be long. Ev- 
erything is now taken out of your 
hands. (Kef erring to our anxiety to 
get moved to a quieter place.) You 
just keep still as you can and wait. 
Sunbeam says you think of her as Blos- 
som. 

"Cheer up. There are better times 
coming." 

June 29th. "I like everybody." This 
was Sunbeam, who was learning to use 
the board. Then Koy said, "Corres- 
pondence School did that. She studied 
with me. It hurt her because we did 
not know. 55 This meant because we did 
not know that she was around. Roy 
had spent considerable time on school 
work, and it was certainly a surprise to 
us to find out that she had been learn- 
ing at the same time. 

July 1. "G-. . . says tell Mrs W. . . 
that he always was a man of his word, 
and that he goes to the same places that 
he did when in the body, and that if she 
will not doubt, that he will come so 
strong that she will not need Leon 5 s 
word. 

"And he says furthermore, that when 



32 LETTERS FROM ROY 

she doubts she shuts us all out. That 
is J . . . 's lesson for this time. Your 
life is the unreal one." 

July 2. " 'Then let your secret 
thoughts be fair. They have a vital 
part and share in shaping worlds and 
molding fate. God's system is so in- 
tricate.' " This quotation was given by 
him, by the instructions of a girl who 
used to be my Sunday School teacher in 
A. . ., Miss M. . . W. . ., who is now ap- 
parently a teacher there. 

"Went to Taunton today. Went to 
lots of places. I think they are begin- 
ning to think. We want people to real- 
ize that they had better think about 
something beyond." 

July 3. "I want you to feel happy so 
Sunbeam and I can. She and I are 
doing all we can, as fast as we can. 
A. . . They took me there and showed 
me the room I was born into that life. 
("They" referred to the teacher men- 
tioned above, and his grandma.) 

"You know what a care your body has 
been to you. Would you have wanted 
me to have gone on with the frail one T 
had? I think that if they had asked, 
and you had known what was coming, 



LETTERS FROM ROY 33 

you would have loved me too much to 
have kept me from it." 

July 5th. "I am still busy and not 
afraid of wearing out. Saw F. . . to- 
day." Q. Does he know you are 
around? Ans. "Sure." 

July 8th. "F... will help to con- 
vince M. . . or anyone else who is mak- 
ing h — 1 for themselves and others. 
(This F. . . is the atheist before refer- 
red to. ) Did you get enough of the S . . 
car? (Mrs. Stevens had persisted in 
using this line, which was too hard and 
long a trip for her. On this occasion 
referred to they were in the midst of a 
terrific thunderstorm while on the car, 
everyone being frightened. She has 
not used the line since ! ) 

July 14th. " 'When a strong brain is 
weighed against a pure heart it is like 
balancing a bubble against a wedge of 
pure gold.' M. . . said that." 

July 15th. "Xow I want you to hold 
back a little and you w T ill find people 
coming to you for advice. I want you 
to sit, relax, and find who controls 
each." This meant that we were to hold 
back on telling about the work that we 
were doing, and rather let it travel it- 
self, which it was bound to do. 



34 LETTERS FROM ROY 

July 16th. " 'The whole world was 
lost in the darkness of sin. The light 
of the world is Jesus. Come to the 
Light, 'tis shining for thee. Once you 
were blind, but now you can see.' " 
Please note the way and manner in 
which these lines have been transposed 
to suit his purpose, telling us that we 
were once blind, as far as these matters 
were concerned. "Uncle S . . . said he 
always liked it." Referring to the 
hymn above mentioned. 

July 18th. "Must not be a one- 
thought person. Must develop all sides. 
Remember, we like the harmonious con- 
ditions." The first remark referred to 
our conversation at the time, about a 
person who was inclined to be one-sided, 
and inclined to make too much of one 
subject, or idea. The second part refer- 
red to trying to get messages when any- 
one was around who was not in sympa- 
thy with the work, or at least only tole- 
rated it. 

"You would be surprised if you could 
know our plans. 'Let not your heart be 
troubled. Ye believe in God, believe 
also in me. In my Father's house are 
many mansions. I go to prepare a 
place for you. If it were not so I would 



LETTERS FROM ROY 35 

have told you.' Trust and Obey." Koy 
was handling the board while this was 
coining, but he said it came from "Mo- 
11a." "She is like Aunt Sarah." (The 
Quaker teacher.) "You want to do 
things now, ma. Everything you 
have had your thoughts on." "Kent." 
When this name came, it called to Mr. 
Stevens' mind a story which was told at 
the old gentleman's expense for many^ 
years, at the conclusion of which Koy 
said that "They said they would make 
dad tell that story." It was very laugh- 
able, and when we were quieted down 
afterwards, he said, "G. . . says now 
Mrs. Stevens, have you all got enough?" 

July 21. "You had better pick up 
gradually. At the last you will have 
to hurry. ( This was so, in spite of our 
efforts to keep straightened out as far 
as possible before moving.) Aunt Nel- 
lie won't let vou go blind." 

July 23rd. " Tor out of the abun- 
dance of the heart the mouth speaketh.' 
You want to keep up on all points now. 
There will be new things doing contin- 
uously. Wish I could say more. We 
thought you could see us tonight. Keep 
this up. (Eef erring to dark circle held 
just before.) It can't be long. H. . . 



36 LETTERS FROM ROY 

Charlie says it seems so good to see 
such absolute faith. You will hear of 
an accident in which you will be inter- 
ested." This was the drowning accident 
that same day in Meredith, N. H., a 
Miss Koi. This was interesting to us 
on account of the name, and for the fact 
that we knew someone who was 
stopping there at the time. 

"C . . . told me to tell you." 

"'Tis the promise of God, full sal- 
vation to give." 

July 26th. "I wish you would get 
ready to get out of this place." 

In another part of the book will be 
found more information as to how we 
found our new home. 

"T . . . ." Upon being asked if it was 
a certain person we knew of, he replied, 
"Yes. He is telling me how to do these 
things." 

"Sunbeam carries a beautiful light 
wherever she goes. It isn't pink, nor 
gold, nor purple. I think azure." 

July 30th. "Mabel helps me when 
you have flowers on the table." Q. 
Mabel W. . . ? Ans. "Yes." "Four 
months. Pretty good, eh?" It was 
four months ago this date that he 
passed on. 



LETTERS FROM ROY 37 

"Well, let's see what the next four 
will do. You told C . . . that Koy was 
right in his glory, but you did not tell 
one fourth. I am so glad that you all 
make it so easy, and enjoy it as well as 
we do. Lots can't get near their folks. 
Alton Stevens says tell you he is right 
here, and glad he can get in so easy. 
(Here we remarked that we were get- 
ting mighty good results on the board. ) 
We couldn't if there wasn't harmony. 
J. . . He says the Western States have 
been full of it (Spiritualism) for a long 
time." 

July 31. "I am going down there for 
business." (Taunton.) Q. What busi- 
ness? Ans. "King's. I am allowed 
to go with them when they take my 
friends home. (This we found was a 
Mrs. W... further referred to on 
August 3rd. ) I can make impressions 
now, all right, can't I?" 

August 2. "Deacon S . . . Grandma 
took us to see them today. She always 
believed in Spirit. Grandpa S . . says 
Hello. He says he comes very often, 
but you have got so many he can't get 
a chance to say anything." 

August 3rd. We were talking about 
the day he went, March 30th. "I was 



38 LETTERS FROM ROY 

really born that day. That Mrs. W. . . 
who died in Taunton was a friend of 
mine. G... S... is home, as usual. 
His mother knows he is there. He says 
it takes mothers to know. This ought 
to be in every home. It is going to be 
universal, but we have something to 
do." 

August 8th. "Gr. . . and I went to 
Taunton this noon. Sunbeam says dad 
had a fine sleep in the hammock. She 
is always chasing butterflies. She was 
with you Saturday afternoon in the 
woods." 

At this point we were talking about 
the time she "Shocked" me. It hap- 
pened this way. During our dark circle 
one night, I suddenly felt a good sized 
electric shock, and at the same time was 
frightened by what seemed to me to be 
a blinding flash of light, although it 
was not noticed by mother and father. 
Mother did experience a peculiar sensa- 
tion at the same moment, but not nearly 
as bad as I did. I jumped, and said 
"Oh!" Then I thought of what Sun- 
beam had said during a previous ses- 
sion, when she said that she would fix 
me for teasing her. Then Koy said, 
"She has laughed every day about that. 



LETTERS FROM ROY 39 

She says iny brother knows I am around 
now." 

"Perkins." In a joking way I said, 
"Who, Dorothy?" Kef erring to the 
crimson rambler by that name. Mother 
swallowed the bait and said, "Who is 
Dorothy Perkins?" Never thinking 
about the flower. Of course we laugh- 
ed at her, for being so easy, when Boy 
started the board moving and said, 
"That was what I said Perkins for. I 
planned it when I was on the piazza 
this afternoon. I made up my mind 
that I would make you laugh tonight." 
We speak of this to show how easily one 
can be led to do just about what his 
guides wish, if one listens at all. 

"You do as we tell you from day to 
day. This has been a hard day for ma. 
We helped her all we could." 

August 9th. "Wait till you get in 
my house." 

August 10th. "Packard. She was 
not in her right mind." 

August 12th. "You can't have har- 
mony where there is such a racket. Now 
Leon, stop trying to find out until we 
get ready. (This in answer to a ques- 
tion as to where we could move.) 

"Sunapee is great this weather. C . . 



40 LETTERS FROM ROY 

was there when I was. I talked with 

him. Saw T Poor old T. . . I get 

at him often. Tell Leon to be a good 
boy. I watch him lots." (This from 
Sunbeam.) 

August 12th. Q. Isn't Koy here? 
Ans. "I am always here only when you 
folks send me away, when you don't 
have faith to hold me." 

Mother spoke here concerning her 
poor health. "That is the trouble with 
your solid body. I can travel now as I 
always wanted to. I had the spirit but 
not the strength. Grandmas are here 
a lot lately. H . . . says he is glad dad 
spoke to S. . . the other day. (About 
our work. ) Sunapee is all wet. ( This 
from Sunbeam.) She likes Sunapee. 
She calls it Soonipi. Gr. . . and I have 
been with J . . . some. We saw Niagara 
Falls. I wish you folks could see it. 
(This J. . . was at this time on a vaca- 
tion trip through New York State. ) 

"Do just as we say, from day to day, 
and Ave will clear the way!" These 
small rhymes were common to him be- 
fore he passed on. "Try and have faith 
in the Holy Spirit." 

August 15th. "I tell you, folks, if 
you could see something of our lives you 



LETTERS FROM ROY 41 

could not feel sad, unless it was be- 
cause some get treated so by tlieir near- 
est in your life." 

August 16th. "Norton is great today. 
I went to the S . . . today. I made them 
feel creepy." This evidently meant 
that he had made his old friends think 
of him so strongly that they thought it 
strange. 

August 18th. "There are a great 
many things I wish I could tell you but 
there is a censor. You listen real hard 
and I may be able to make you under- 
stand. They are willing we should do 
that if you are able to discern." 

August 19th. "We took some folks 
home last night. If you had seen them 
last night, you would have been glad I 
went out just as I did." This referred 
to a little boy killed. 

August 20th. "H . . . says how does 
it seem? He says it is all true, every- 
thing, and more than he could tell. 
Something doing in our circles all the 
time now. You will see and hear it 
from all quarters. That is what I was 
going to say for your benefit. Sun- 
beam and I went to Brockton this morn- 
ing. Met G. . in Taunton. Aunt 
Xellie, Grandmas, Sunbeam and I 



42 LETTERS FROM ROY 

went to Melrose." (The cemetery at 
Brockton containing our lot.) 

Q. How many are here now? Ans. 
"How long will you give me? If you 
could see them all waiting when they 
know someone is going to talk." 

August 22. During these next few 
weeks there is considerable message 
work concerning our change to a new 
home. 

I wish to take a few moments here to 
tell of the way in which we found our- 
selves situated as we now are, in a little 
home of our own, where conditions are 
much better than they ever have been 
for us. 

It will be remembered that we 
changed our plans last Spring, and 
moved to Dorchester, where we were 
not at all satisfied. 

It seemed to us for some months, in 
fact up to at least midsummer, that we 
should never want to buy a home, as we 
had planned in the Spring, but it seems 
that the plans of those on the other side 
who were helping us were already laid. 
It was about the last week in July, 
after we were nearly discouraged with 
being able to tell where we were to 
locate. Mrs. Stevens was finding her 



LETTERS FROM ROY 43 

situation especially unbearable, being 
at home all day. On the day spoken 
of, she said, "Oh, Roy, can't you tell me 
where to go to look for a house that will 
be what we want?" As clearly as could 
be came the response to her, "River St, 
Station." She took the car for that 
point, and was walking in the direction 
of the house which we had planned to 
buy last Spring, and, while passing 
along the street near there, saw a little 
house being built. She felt immediate- 
ly that it was her home, and wanted to 
see it, but could not because there were 
no steps or porches finished. The name 
of the street on which the house is lo- 
cated was giYen us on May 31st, also on 
June 11th and July 13th, but of course 
we were not able to place it at that 
time. The name of the real estate 
Agent through whoni the papers were 
passed was giYen us on June 21st, and 
the name of the builder was given on 
April 30 and May 22. The name of our 
next door neighbor was given on June 
30th, and July 1. Please remember 
that none of these were known to us at 
the time. Mrs. Stevens sent Mr. Stev- 
ens and myself out the following Sat- 
urday to see the house if possible, but 



44 LETTERS FROM ROY 

here is where we made a mistake which 
complicated matters for a while. 

We had an idea that it was the 
former house that they were trying to 
get for ns, so we looked at that again, 
and finding it still unsold, we went to 
see the agent from whom we were plan- 
ning to buy in the Spring. 

This was not what was wanted, how- 
ever, and all the time that we were 
talking about the first house, mother 
felt that the second one was the right 
one. She asked Roy to find a customer 
for the first house, if it was the second 
one that was the right one. 

Matters went on, rather unsettled, 
until the twenty-third of August, and 
we had planned to look at the house on 
that morning, to make the final decis- 
ion. Finding the Real Estate office 
closed, they decided to go up and look 
at the house themselves, and, on reach- 
ing it, found the "Sale" sign removed. 
Then Mrs. Stevens felt relieved, and 
they at once went down to the second 
house, were shown over it by the build- 
er's foreman, and three days afterward 
completed the bargain. 

Here I am going to give the messages 



LETTERS FROM ROY 45 

received on this date, August 25th, as 
follows : — 

"Oh, dad, you make us laugh, run- 
ning around just as I say. When you 
went to the agent, I was pretty 
sure that he wasn't there, and you told 
ma that you didn't leave your card, as 
she told you. I picked that house out 
when I found out what kind of a man 
Mr. W. . ., the builder, was. Now you 
will have to hurry to be ready when 
the house is. I must tell Gr. . . all 
about it now. He doesn't know that I 
have told you about it." 

Here we are, and if anyone had told 
us last Summer what would happen 
since then, we could not have believed 
it. 

It will be found that the house is re- 
ferred to quite often in August and 
September, in the records of messages. 

"Uncle Levi thinks it will be the 
right place for you all, even kitty ! 
L . . . S . . . says he wishes more people 
would stop and get acquainted with 
themselves in this way. You will know 
very soon what you want to know. 
( Something about the house, which we 
were trying to settle. ) Get your things 
all ready as fast as you can." 



46 LETTERS FROM ROY 

August 23. "The Kailroad men are 
interested as mucli as they ever were 
in railroads. Aunt Nellie thinks a 
good deal of them, and they just wor- 
ship her. E . . E . . . He is a teacher.'' 

August 24th. "Boy isn't ready so I 
will talk. (Sunbeam gave this mes- 
sage.) She gets ahead of me every 
time lately. I don't try very hard! 
Shall be glad wiien you get all moved. 
We have been out there a lot." 

August 25th. "Ma is beginning to 
know what my change was, and that I 
am more alive than I ever was; and 
you will be surprised at the things 
they are going to let me tell you about, 
and show you. The way I engineered 
the house convinced her better than 
any other." 

This latter seems to refer to the 
mother, who still wanted to be perfect- 
ly sure that the messages had ab- 
solutely nothing to do with our own 
minds. When they found that she was 
entirely convinced, it seems that it 
then became possible for more to be 
told, knowing that it would be re- 
ceived in faith. 

August 26th. "I picked that house 
out when I found out what kind of a 



LETTERS FROM ROY 47 

man Mr. W. . was. Sunbeam has been 
anxious for me to tell you what we 
have been doing. (Concerning the 
house.) Now you will have to hurry 
to be ready when the house is." 

August 27th. "You ought to see the 
homes some people have here." At 
this point we made comments on this 
subject, as to how people conducted 
themselYes while here, thereby deter- 
mining the kind of Spiritual home they 
were to ha Ye. "That is the right idea ; 
just according to their unselfishness." 

Q. Boy, who was it I heard singing 
this morning, before I woke? Just a few 
words to explain: I was just between 
sleeping and waking, early that morn- 
ing, when I heard a wonderfully sweet 
Yoice singing "Home, Sweet Home." 
There was also the most beautiful har- 
mony blended with it. Gradually, as 
I awakened, it died away. I shall 
neYer forget the sweet melody of that 
song, and, coming as it did when we 
were planning for our new home, it 
struck me very forcibly, and I was 
anxious to find out more. Some may 
think it strange when they read his an- 
swer, but after a moment's thought, it 
is by no means impossible. Ans. "You 



48 LETTERS PROM ROY 

would not know her now. Sometime. 
Nordica. She is a friend of Aunt 
Nellie's. That is why ma cut out her 
picture. (Mother had placed Nor- 
dica's picture in a scrap book, years 
ago. ) The harmony was caused by one 
of the heavenly singers. Ma heard it 
one night." 

It may easily be seen that I was 
deeply grateful for this beautiful bit 
which was given me from the other 
side. Another thing rather curious 
about the incident: it had entirely 
slipped my mind that her real name 
was Norton, until called to my atten- 
tion on January 26th, 1917, and then I 
suddenly remembered that that name 
had been given on the board many, 
many times, with no explanation. 

We had taken it for granted that he 
was always speaking of the little town 
near Taunton, our old home. Now I 
do not think so. 

"Sunbeam and I like the Church at 
M . . . . You remember about the per- 
sons I told you you would meet at the 
right church." 

It will be remembered that in an 
earlier part of the book I was told 
that I would know when the time came, 



LETTERS FROM ROY 49 

which was the church I was to attend, 
and the names of three persons given 
me. Avhom I would meet there. 

August 27th. 7 :30 P. M. Sunbeam 
said, "Hello. You want to know my 
real name?" Roy then said, "She laugh- 
ed and said 'I am going to make them 
guess.' It was often on niy lips. She 
says I may tell you. I should think 
you could guess, ma. Kuth. Aunt 
Xellie named her. We are going to 
give you a lot more than this. M . . . is 
here again. You would like her, ma. 
She is learning to be a teacher, same 
as I." 

August 28th. Q. Were you helping 
me today, Eoy? (After I had had an 
unusually busy day in the office. ) Ans. 
"Between you and ma and dad you 
have kept me going." 

August 29th. "Saw A.. T. . after 
I left you, dad, and he asked me my 
name. I told him who I was and he 
said he used to know my folks. Do you 
know what made me write to F. . . for 
a job? A. . . told me today that he put 
it into my head when he saw how bad 
I wanted to get on the road." 

August 30th. "M. . . He is one fine 
man. He would like to reach his son. 



50 LETTERS FROM ROY 

He said you don't know how I wish I 
could reach my folks as you can." 

August 31. "We are going to do 
things when we get in our house. H . . 
knows that we are around, but he does 
not think it best to say anything, but 
he knows he receives it fine." 

Sept. 1. "Gr. . . says you will move 
sooner than you expect if he has any- 
thing to do about it." 

Sept. 3. I was planning a trip to 
Taunton that day, and when such is 
the case, we have always commu- 
nicated early in the morning, just be- 
fore I start, in order to see what he 
has to say for the day. 

"Gr. . and I are going to church with 
you. I'll impress you what to say." 

He refers to this subject, which he 
is apparently spreading carefully 
among his old friends. Of course it 
is something which, I am sorry to 
say, one has to be rather diplomatic 
as to where any words are dropped con- 
cerning it. I have so far, however, 
found that the majority of people are 
very willing, and in some cases quite 
anxious, to receive any information on 
the subject, coming from one whom 
they know, and in whom they have 



LETTERS FROM ROY 51 

always been able to trust, rather than 
from some stranger, about whom they 
knew nothing. 

It is the absolute sincerity which 
must be kept intact, and the note of 
truth must ring through one's state- 
ments, in order to keep this wonderful 
study on its proper high level, rather 
than the elements of charlatanism, 
which, to the great discredit of some, 
have appeared from time to time in 
the past. 

I speak of this at this time, because 
it occurs to me that in the spreading of 
these words one to another, much of 
the truth may be lost sight of, and 
other things creep in which have no 
place there. 

I may not make myself quite clear, 
but I wish to lay particular stress on 
the Truth, as you will find spoken of a 
number of times later on in the record. 
It is the one important element to suc- 
cess of any kind. 

Sept. 4th. " 'Let not your heart be 
troubled. Ye believe in God, believe also 
in me.' All is coming out fine if you 
folks do as we say. We have lots of 
clean fun. Take things as they come, 
with no complaints, and you will see 



52 LETTERS FROM ROY 

how much better things will be. In 
other words, just trust. Gr. . . often 
goes with me to see the Eailroad men, 
and enjoys it. (It seems by this state- 
ment that they are often with the Eail- 
road men in this life, and other state- 
ments he has made on the same sub- 
ject lead one to think that they take a 
great interest in that work. Perhaps 
more especially so in our family, in 
which there are quite a number of B.B. 
men. ) H . . believes I have helped him 
wonderfully." 

Sept. 5th. "B. . says tell Uncle B. . 
we are all ready to save people in that 
life. We want all the help from your 
side. E . . . K . . . has been thinking of 
me a lot. I go to see her often. I am 
going to make her know I am around. '* 

Sept. 7th. "H . . is on that I am help- 
ing him. You have not got one thing 
to worry about, and when you do it up- 
sets all of us." 

Sept. 9th. "Mrs. C . . was one of the 
many who took Mr. S. . ., (naming a 
Taunton man who passed away very 
suddenly just before this. ) I saw him, 
of course, but did not say anything, 
until later, he felt so strange. Uncle 
Ed says you will be there before you 



LETTERS FROM ROY 53 

know it. He says ask Leon if he re- 
members what I said about moving." 

This referred to the time I asked 
Rot if we would haTe to moTe again, 
and he replied that when the time came 
I would be there first. 

Sept. 10th. "I heard L. . . W. . . to- 
day. (The day of Mr. S..'s funeral. 
This L. . TV. . is a Taunton man.) 

"Saw a lot of our old friends. And 
they called it heart disease! (Please 
think this OTer, for there is a world of 
meaning behind it.) Leon must see 
them when he goes down." 

Sept. 11th. 'Watch out today, Leon. 
I am onto eTeryone that has anything 
to do with mine, and if you do as I tell 
you, I will see you where I want to. 
Be quiet, kind, courteous. Remember, 
the fellow who yields the last knock is 
thought the good fellow." 

Sept. 13th. "Cousin Edna is here. 
She says 'Hello, Aunt Carrie. I know 
these are your boys. I am not gray, 
and neTer shall be. I haTe used these 
many times. (The board.) Tell Uncle 
H . . I came and used this.' " Then Roy 
said, "She is a grand woman. I haTe 
lots of fun. I wish you could all feel 
as good as I do." 



54 LETTERS FROM ROY 

Sept. 15th. "C. . H. . says does dad 
remember W. . A. . I can't take time 
to tell you all that were around while 
you were talking. ( This was while Mr. 
Stevens was talking to some Eailroad 
men.) ; ! 

"Patsy is with you a great deal. He 
is so anxious to have them all know 
how it is with him. (This was the poor 
fellow r who used to frequent the rail- 
road offices for so many years, spoken 
of elsewhere.) We want you to re- 
member that we are not dead. You 
are the dead ones, A . . . says !" 

Sept. 17th. "Lots of fun mixed in 
with business in this life." Q. Who 
showed me the storm? (Kef erring to 
a storm at sea, which I saw pictured 
very plainly.) Ans. "A guide. Your 
grandma has been trying to guide you 
for some time. Now she is going to." 

Sept. 18th. "You will hear of an 
accident, carriage." This came true 
shortly afterward, being a runaway. 

Sept. 19th. "There is a minister 
around you who makes you want to 
pronounce the benediction." Q. Who? 
Ans. "I can, but I don't want to." Q. 
Was it S. . . H. . . ? Ans. "Yes." 

Sept. 22nd. "Here is your friend 



LETTERS FROM ROY 55 

A . . . . Where do you tliink he has 
been? To the S.... He used to go 
there with me often. He said he knew 
I did not feel like going lots of times, 
so he went along to keep my courage 
up." Q. He is a star, isn't he? Ans. 
"He is that and more." "Hello to you 
all." (Mr. W. . . ) "He says he knows 
it doesn't take long to find out your 
friends in this life. The veil is differ- 
ent." (This man passed away sudden- 
ly, in the fall of 1915, at Taunton.) Q. 
Ask him if he remembers the good 
times we had bowling? Ans. "He says 
Ha, Ha, Leon. I don't forget so eas- 
ily." 

Sept. 24th. "G His father saw 

him last night. (The father is in earth 
life. ) We had a picnic with him. He 
did not know what the matter was with 
him. Grandmas and grandpas here. 
We went to our house this morning.'* 
Q. by mother. Did you take me? Ans. 
"We took your astral." Here mother 
referred to the uselessness of carrying 
around our physical bodies, which was 
quite natural, considering the amount 
of suffering she has had with hers, and 
from which she is by no means free 
now. 



56 LETTERS FROM ROY 

"You will have to travel with that 
some time longer." 

Sept. 26th. This was the day on 
which we moved into our new home, 
and, in the consequent confusion and 
extra work, there was of course less 
time devoted to this work, but we took 
a little time for it every day, just the 
same. 

"How do you like your new home? 
New to you ! We will have great times 
here. This is something like living." 

Sept. 27th. "I went to Taunton this 
P. M. Pretty, but this is pretty, too." 
This particular evening I had some 
business to attend to, and as I left the 
house set a time about when I expected 
to return. I was somewhat late, and, 
while mother tries not to get nervous, 
knowing it is unnecessary, she felt 
worried for fear something had hap- 
pened. She did not tell me, though, 
when I reached home, and the first I 
knew of it was when we were using the 
board Koy said, "I found ma out on the 
steps looking for you tonight." Then 
she admitted it. 

Sept. 29th. "Tell Aunt G... the 
flowers were OK. I do have all kinds 



LETTERS FROM ROY 57 

of fiui with you folks." Here Ruth 
said, "He means we do." 

"Uncle Ed says hello, how do you 
like? He says 'I want you to know 
that I was in on that.' " (Building 
the house.) 

Sept. 30th. "I have got my semi, 
haven't I, dad. Xow how about me for 
planning?" This referred to a semi- 
direct light, which, boy-fashion, he 
was crazy to have put in our new 
house, that is, the one we were plan- 
ning on last Spring. 

Referring to the planning part, I 
Avish to speak here of the numberless 
times that we have found out how they 
plan for us here, and sometimes have 
to take a longer way round than they 
would if we listened to them more care- 
fully. If people would only think of 
this, much trouble might be saved. 

Oct. 1. Mrs. Stevens was talking 
about the day he was sick, March 30th, 
and said then that she hoped he would 
be better the next morning. "Well, 
wasn't I? Hard work to make her see 
it. I don't see how you can stand it 
without the cars ! I was with Mr. S . . 
at Taunton todav. He has made them 
think." 



58 LETTERS FROM ROY 

Oct. 3. "MissD... She was talk- 
ing about you today. They still tell 
how sad it was. It makes us laugh 
when we hear some people talk. Say, 
won't w^e have fun when ma comes to 
this life? She will be surprised all the 
time." 

Oct. 4th. "Mrs. C . . . wants to say 
Good Evening." Here I remarked in 
a joking way for her to come in and sit; 
down. "She laughed and said you were 
too late. Now, here comes A . . . He 
says 'I am all down, Leon!' He and 
G . . . and Uncle Ed and I will be at 
Brockton Fair tomorrow. Our lan- 
guage is so much simpler than that one. 
I want you all to study it. The unruly 
member gets folks into trouble." 

Oct. 5th. "We have a lot of Bail- 
road men coming. (That evening, I 
suppose, to visit. ) J . . told them how 
pretty your bouquets were. C . . . says 
he is going to take one ! A . . . He likes 
the boys. He says they are so jolly. 
(The R.R. men.) G. . says good even- 
ing." 

Oct. 6. "Can't you find your glasses, 
ma? Eemember the time you found 
dad's?" This was an incident we had 
forgotten about, one summer, about 



LETTERS FROM ROY 59 

five years ago, at Middletown, E. I., 
where Ave were staving. Mr. Stevens 
lost his glasses while in bathing, and 
Mrs. Stevens found them, the next day, 
which we thought very lucky. As we 
look hack now, we do not lay it all to 
luck, judging by other things which 
have happened. 

"Great day at Brockton. Some win- 
dow cleaner. How does it go?" An- 
other little incident to show how people 
can be impressed. 

We were unable to get our windows 
cleaned, being a new house and cover- 
ed with paint spots as they were. We 
did not know Avhat to do, until one 
morning Koy impressed it upon his 
mother's mind to try vinegar! This 
she had not known about before, and, 
incidentally, we pass it on now, if it 
will do anyone any good ! 

"Hello, my ma. I love you, every 
one." This was Kuth. "She leaves me 
out on purpose." Q. Why? Ans. "Be- 
cause she knows she will get all the 
loving she wants." 

Oct. 7th. "I want you all to learn 
my method of communication. Aunt 
Sarah says mediums cannot live too 
clean lives." 



60 LETTERS FROM ROY 

Oct. 8th. "M. . A. . W. . wants to 
be announced. What made you play 
a march? (I answered that I thought 
I did it of my own free will.) "You 
are only Grandma's, Sunbeam-Buth's, 
and my instrument, or rather, the Holy 
Spirit's told about my swerv- 
ing when I carried the cross (in the 
choir.) That hurt my feelings then. 
Now it hurts his. His folks made him 
understand why I was chosen, and why 
I could not carry it straight. (This 
was on account of lack of physical 
strength.) I took the ginger out of 
him, as I did lots of others, who were 
impatient because I did not see things 
in their way. Quiet people, if you will 
observe them, make the most noise. 
They were talking about me down to 
choir today. Strange? I don't think 
so. G. . . and I feel more natural 
than we did there, and the best part of 
it is that I can stay right here all day 
when I want to, or when you need me. 
Don't cry. I am having a better time 
than you. Hello, Leon and our two. 
They all like my house, don't they? 
Don't tell things we say. They make 
us weary, trying to prove by their little 
puny ways that there is nothing in 



LETTERS FROM ROY 61 

what you have told them. Grandma 
says let them alone. Yon will get bet- 
ter results. (All this refers to some- 
one who doubted. ) She says she knows 
them, and yon know what you know, 
and if they would use common sense 
they would see, but they haven't had 
enough yet to beat it into them. She 
says you wait a while and they will be 
trying to find out things, and you keep 
as dumb as an oyster." 

This proved to our satisfaction that 
our spirit friends get impatient at too 
great an exhibition of "thickheaded- 
ness. 7 ' 

Oct. 9th. "G. . and I will be at the 
Guild, all right. Great. I go any time 
I want to. It makes us laugh when we 
stop to listen. ( To unbelievers. ) Great 
times coming. Glad you are on the 
right train." 

Oct. 11. "H . . was with us this P. M., 
while Ave were talking to Uncle B . . . " 

Oct. 12. "Ye shall know the truth, 
and the truth shall make you free. Mrs. 
. . . says she wishes her family cared 
enough to do as you folks are doing, 
Euth has been out with Billy. (Our 
cat.) She is a darling. Wait till you 
can know her as I do. Uncle Levi says 



62 LETTERS FROM ROY 

she and ma are as much alike as two 
peas in a pod, as ma was at her age." 

Oct. 13. "C . . and someone else you 
know. L . . says hello. She says, 'Oh, 
I wish my folks would do this.' " 

Oct. 16th. "Was down to the S . . to- 
day. It's great making people feel 
that they saw you or heard you speak. 
Mr. G-. . knows there is something in 
this." 

Oct. 17th. "Tell Mrs. W . . I am very 
happy with my sister, and I have met 
lots of people who sing her (Mrs. . . . ) 
praises. Adams. He says you tell 
Uncle B . . . that I have been with him 
more than one trip that he didn't know 
about." Adams was a former railroad 
man. 

Oct. 20th. "I am going to tell you 
something, Leon. I am going to run 
you up against some mighty fine people, 
but you don't want to once lose your 
head, because you will be more sorry 
than I can tell. When you are in 
doubt, just do as ma told me to do ; put 
your mind on higher things. You have 
got to do our work, or we shall have to 
resort to extreme measures." 

Oct. 21. "Tell Mrs W. . . that I talk 
with my mother, just as I used to do. 



LETTERS FROM ROY 63 

Tell lier or anyone who is interested 
that I did not know what it was to feel 
strong, same as some boys, but I am 
well and very happy. But I should not 
be if my mother did not know that I 
am. Grandma says she has got you 
boys just where she wants you." 

Oct. 22. This Sunday I planned a 
trip to Taunton. "Some work for me 
today, Leon. Tell J. . . what grandma 
said. Get a word in where it seems 
suitable, but keep your head. I want 
them to see that I am bringing you up. 7 ' 
"Hello, ma and my big brother. (Kuth.) 
May I go with you boys ? I should, any- 
way." 

Oct. 27th. "Mr. L . . . knows there is 
something different from the everyday 
grind." 

I told this man a few days before 
about some of our results and evidently 
gave him something to think about. 

Oct. 29. "A., said last night that you 
are in the same class as his wife. You 
cannot get away from those with whom 
you belong. Aunt Xellie, Mrs. W. . J. . 
E . . . and a good many others are in 
the same class. C. . . is in the same 
class as Leon. It is a wonderful study, 
if people would only open their eyes. 



64 LETTERS FROM ROY 

B . . F . . is in ma's class. E . . is in 
Leon's. Buth just came in and said, 
'What are you talking about, Boy?' 1 
had my cap and gown on. ( This is the 
first time he has made a statement like 
this one, and we hardly knew what to 
make of it. It opened up something- 
new for us to consider, and that was 
that he was able to give us something 
a little more advanced than hereto- 
fore.) L. . has done some thinking. 
The H . . . s think it is wonderful. I did 
once." 

Oct. 30th. "I tried to tell you who 
took E . . 's money. T . . C . . . Saw him 
today, with H . . L . . . I told them my 
mother told me about them. They are 
up to their old tricks, making people 
laugh. T . . played at the C . . S . . long 
after folks thought he was dead. H . . 
L . . travelled a good deal playing heav- 
ier parts after they thought him gone." 

People who used to attend this thea- 
tre in Boston some years ago will read- 
ily place these two. 

Nov. 3. "Mr. H . . says your roses 
are fine. He says we know we are wel- 
come at this place." 

Nov. 4th. "Saw E. . M. . today. It 
seemed to him that he saw me. Leon. 



LETTERS FROM ROY 65 

you had some time cleaning up the 
ashes. Did pretty well, though. Pa- 
tience is one of the things they are 
trying you out on. Oh, those things 
used to bother me so." This referred 
to my discovery of our ash barrel 
tipped upside down on the sidewalk in 
front of the house, evidently done in a 
spirit of rowdyism during the night 
and which made me somewhat angry 
at the work caused. When he gave this 
message I was glad I did not get more 
impatient. 

Xov. 5th. "Mr. H . . . was taken for 
the great work, which is nearing com- 
pletion. He is wonderful." 

Xov. 6. "It's funny you don't know 
how many good qualities a fellow has 
until you think he's dead." 

Xov. 14th. "Xow G. . says I must 
put on my cap and gown. Harmony is 
the keynote of the grandest music; of 
success in everything. Strive for it. It 
means health, happiness, prosperity. It 
is the secret of all truly great souls. Do 
not go in the room with any inharmo- 
nious feelings. Enough; you learn that 
well and we will give you more." The 
room referred to is one we reserve 
especially for work of this nature, for 



66 LETTERS FROM ROY 

holding sittings, and nothing is allowed 
to disturb the feeling which seems to 
surround it. We call it Roy's room. 

Nov. 18th. "Tell F. . we want him 
to be ready to receive our messages." 

Nov. 19th. "Mary was here last 
night. She makes ma talk every time. 
Sometimes they don't like it, but she 
says it goes. She is a teacher. 'Oh, 
Death, where is thy sting? Oh, Grave, 
where is thy victory?' Dr. G-. .. One 
of our teachers, and a special friend of 
Mary's." 

"Prayer is the only way to begin the 
day." 

Nov. 20th. " 'And He shall give His 
angels charge over thee, to keep thee in 
all thy ways.' Aunt Sarah." 

Nov. 23. "I went to High St. Saw 
P . . . It seems to him as though I was 
around a good deal." 

Nov. 24th. "A . . says in a year from 
now we shall miss a good many from 
our midst. They will leave their bodies 
and put on immortality. Some one 
here who has seen the Alps. You could 
never guess. Enlighten E . . . as soon 
as you can. Mrs. R . . says, and so you 
are brothers, and did not tell me she 
was your mother ; and she says, and so 



LETTERS FROM ROY 67 

they are your boys. She came last 
night. She said, when I read for you 
(Boy) I did not think we would both be 
out of the body so soon. (She Avas a 
medium who read for Kov in February, 
1916. She passed on in July, 1916.) 

"Oh, I wish you could see the crowd. 
Xo use, I had better not begin to 
name!" He evidently was discouraged 
at trying to give us the names of people 
present, as was his method some 
evenings. 

Nov. 26th. "The boy might go to a 
meeting this afternoon, if he wishes. 
(I did go, and was given a fine reading 
by a stranger in the city. ) Gray Eagle 
says if you don't want him just say so. 
He would like to come. But you must 
not try to shake the one who has been 
around patient so long. (This is a 
young Indian chief, who has been with 
me for at least thirteen years, being 
first called to my attention by a man in 
Xcav Hampshire, who described him to 
me for the first time. How long he was 
with me before that, I do not know, but 
I do know he is still with me, and has 
been described to me a number of times 
since then. As near as I can ascertain, 
his name is Sunset.) He has helped 



68 LETTERS FROM ROY 

you out of a lot. Has kept your head 
above water. Say, it's fine to see the 
way you folks understand Kuth and 
me." 

Nov. 27. "Lecture. Be careful about 
the truth. Some can exaggerate, but 
this class it tears down immediately. 
Others, it may be centuries which they 
have to account. 'The stone which the 
builders refused has become the head 
of the corner.' " The message just 
before this may not be quite clear in 
its wording, but the meaning as taken 
by us is that it may take some people 
centuries to account for something 
false, or wrong. 

Nov. 28th. "What I tell ye in dark- 
ness, that speak ye in the light. A. . . 
says that is significant." About four- 
teen or fifteen years ago A . . . ? s wife 
came to Mrs. Stevens at midnight, one 
night, with this quotation. This was 
shortly after she had passed on. It was 
so vivid an experience that it somewhat 
frightened her, and she aroused us all, 
at the time, to tell us about it. It was 
indeed significant to us, judging by the 
experiences of the vears between. 

Nov. 29th. "Tell E. . . that I would 
like her to read . . . and . . .," (naming 



LETTERS FROM ROY 69 

two books of this nature. ) E ... is 
the daughter of the Mr. S . . . referred 
to before, who passed away in Taunton 
early in the fall of 1916. 

Nov. 30th. '"This is the day you want 
to see every chance to be happy. Many 
hungry hearts today. Many trying so 
hard to make it known that they have 
not gone away off somewhere in the 
skies. Mrs. P . . says she wishes some- 
one she knows would try this. (Board.) 
She says I am a lucky boy. The T . . . 
boy has about given up trying to make 
his family understand. His mother 
thinks she imagines things." 

Dec. 3. "Are you going to Taunton 
today? You will be surprised before 
bedtime. You mil not feel impressed 
to say much until the impression comes. 
They will put the words into your 
mouth. C . . says he is going with me 
this morning. He says he likes the 
W. . family. I will be with you when 
you go to Melrose (Cemetery.)" 

Dec. 4th. "Let a son shine in? Sun- 
beam in, too ! She always understands 
me but doesn't always know it." Kefer- 
ring to his mother being able to under- 
stand what he says to her. 

Dec. 5th. "1917 is going to be a 



70 LETTERS FROM ROY 

great spiritual awakening. Strong men 
and women will be found in great 
numbers. You want to see me in my 
cap and gown? It is not my fault that 
you cannot. Mrs. W. .. She has been 
here before." 

Dec. 6th. "Some glory for Taunton. 
(It went no-license.) I did more than 
you and dad together. Many worked 

hard to influence Now we are 

going for Boston. I have had some fun 
watching folks lately. They don't know 
that each one has a great many watch- 
ing." 

Dec. 9th. "Mrs P . . says she thought 
you (Mrs. Stevens) were coming before 
I did. Maggie. (An Indian girl, a 
guide belonging to a woman in Bridge- 
water. This is the American name she 
goes by, evidently.) Q. Has she been 
here before? Ans. "Surely. You wait 
until you know her. She is O K." 

Dec. 10th. "We are doing things to 
the serpent of all serpents. (Liquor.) 
Decency abhors it. 

"If you could see, when you are sit- 
ting especially, the faces around you. 

"I dreaded it when I thought I had 
to go, but you could not get me back 
again. H . . . He likes our minister. 



LETTERS FROM ROY 71 

They could all have lots of help if they 
would only look for it." 

Dec. 11. "Don't get impatient. That 
is your lesson, you know. Tom Gr. . . 
(A young man drowned in the accident 
at the Summer St. bridge, Boston, 
shortly before this, and who boarded at 
the house of my aunt.) I found him 
as soon as I could. He is an unusual 
character. High ideals. Too much so 
for that life. It was lonely. Few 
friends. He found he could not mingle 
with them. Their ways were not his." 

Dec. 13. "There is something going 
to happen. I should like to tell you, 
but I have been warned. Marion. We 
think a lot of her. H. . wants to be 
remembered to all." 

Dec. 14th. "That is the thing I want 
you to do when you want our help or 
advice. Ask, and then forget it. (This 
concerned his picture, for which his 
mother was very anxious, because we 
then had no good likeness of him at the 
time he passed on. More about this 
will be found in another part of the 
book.) A., would like to say good 
evening. You will hear something 
which will please you." 

Dec. 16th. "You have often thought 



72 LETTERS FROM ROY 

that you would like to mingle with the 
greatest thinkers. You have only to 
think of it. They often come and have 
to wait to get in. That is why inhar- 
mony throws you down. That is why 
you feel so buoyant when in this. It is 
all so simple, when we get in harmony. 
G. . . likes to get here when the boy 
feels the way he did tonight." 

Dec. 17th. "W. . W. .. He likes our 
choir. He says he is doing some travel- 
ling now, farther than to Boston. Har- 
vard is in black. They had better have 
used white." (When Professor Mun- 
sterberg passed away.) 

Dec. 19th. "Mr, A., says tell E.. 
that he will be right around on Christ- 
mas, as he is most of the time. He 
wishes they would all realize that he is 
only anxious to be called on. He is 
making his presence felt. He is help- 
ing each one as they give him oppor- 
tunity." 

This was in response to my request 
for a Christmas message for a certain 
family, when I asked Eoy to ask the 
member of that family if he could not 
send some word to the rest of them, at 
Christmas time. 

Dec. 24th. "A . . wishes you a Merry 



LETTERS FROM ROY 73 

Christinas. You won't go alone to 
Melrose. Say, they keep ine busy to- 
night. You ought to see C . . . Kuth 
thinks it is line. Those joyful times 
draw a crowd from this side." (Kef er- 
ring to Christmas trees, and carol sing- 
ing.) 

Dec. 25th. "We had a great time last 
night. How do you do this fine Christ- 
mas day ?" (Kuth.) Q. I guess you are 
a happy girl this year. Ans. "Happy ! 
I guess I am. You tell dad I am a 
happy girl." "Edna says she always 
wanted a brother, same as Koy wanted 
a sister. She says she always comes 
here when you get on a "tear". (Mean- 
ing on the days when I feel full of fun. ) 
Maybe you don't know it. Uncle Ed 
says you draw a good crowd when ma 
don't get blue. 

"When you cannot see and hear it is 
not our fault. There is a little stranger 
added to our group. Boy. He came 
from Colorado. He is a cherub. A 
baby. Harry. My cap is on! Now 
listen. When you go into my room drop 
all thoughts of what you are going to 
get. Don't think at all. We will do 
the best we can. You cannot see from 
our side, so just be patient. Don't you 



74 LETTERS FROM ROY 

suppose I shall talk just as soon as 
it is favorable? It is better to be quiet. 
Don't tell what you get until after, for 
each one gets something different; and, 
don't you see, each one has different 
forces. Euth is coming, so here goes 
the cap ! Hello, everyone." Q. Where 
have you been? Ans. "Out with L. . . 
to see her folks." 

Dec. 26th. "Edna wants to know 
when you are going to write some of 
these truths down, as they ought to be 
written. You can almost see us, can't 
you?" 

Dec. 28th. "I am quite a sub for a 
wireless. H. . was there." Then Euth 
said, "I am glad I stayed with ma to- 
night." 

The last paragraph refers to a wreck 
on the railroad at Dorchester, which 
delayed me on the w^ay home. We had 
stopped at the Dorchester station some 
few minutes. The conductor told us of 
the trouble ahead, so I decided to get 
out. I walked up ahead, and found 
that a fast freight had crashed into an 
empty passenger train at the siding. 
It was a bad one, both engines being 
overturned, and the engineer of one 
train killed. I knew I would have a 



LETTERS FROM ROY 75 

long wait if I went home over the rail- 
road, so took a long war round, which 
was really the shortest way home, 
While walking to the car I thought 
about mother, who would be wondering 
what was the matter. So I said to my 
brother, whom I felt was still with me, 
as well as while at the wreck, "Can you 
make it plain to mother that there has 
been trouble, but that I am all right?'' 
TThen I got home I found that she had 
received his impression, just as I asked 
him to give it. This explains his first 
remark. II . . is a railroad conductor, 
who passed away early last summer, I 
think, and who is mentioned in this 
record a number of times. 

Boy then said, "If I had been as you 
tonight I should not sleep." 

He was of a nervous temperament 
while in the body, and anything out of 
the ordinary would be hard for him to 
forget. 

Dec. 29th. Some months ago I ex- 
plained something of this subject to a 
young man, and wanted to know what 
he really thought about it. This night 
I asked Boy how the man really felt, 
whether he believed it, or did not under- 
stand it, or was only appearing inter- 



76 LETTERS FROM ROY 

ested for politeness' sake. "He is like 
lots of others; lialf frightened, and 
doesn't know what to think. Surely, 
he is all right." 

December 31. "Now that you know 
about us, we can laugh, grandma says. 
The spirit friends never like to see any- 
thing but happiness, but sometimes we 
have to see suffering for discipline. 
Sometimes the wrong person, so you 
think from that side, suffers. That will 
all be made clear when the right time 
comes. (Grallilee was played on the 
Victrola, in the dark. ) You would al- 
ways do that if you could see the good 
influences around fine music." 

Some remark was passed concerning 
the weather, and in a joking way I 
asked him how he stood the cold. "Don't 
feel it. We are not made to feel every 
physical condition." 

Jan. 1. "Did ma find the article? 
(On Dec. 30th he told us to read the 
next day's papers carefully. The "Care- 
fully" was a joke on mother, who the 
next day started looking for some 
small item which would be the one he 
wanted us to find, when in reality it 
was a good sized article, concerning 
communications received from a sol- 



LETTERS FROM ROY 77 

clier who was killed in the present 
Avar. ) You know now why we are anx- 
ious about ray hook. That is the only 
way I can reach some people. 

"This cannot be kept within any limit. 
You must not settle down into any self- 
ish grooves. There is too wide a scope. 
T...." 

Q. What does he want to say? Ans. 
"He would like to say a lot if you were 
ready. v 

T . . . is a man who passed away 
years ago, and has since given mes- 
sages through a medium, which I think 
are out in book form, as part of a col- 
lection through the same source. 

Jan. 8th. "'Tis love that makes the 
world go round, Love will rule again 
some day." 

Jan. 13th. "Earnestly believe in us 
and we will do all we can to make you 
realize that we are around." 

Jan. 14th. A very rainy Sunday 
morning. We as usual Sundays used 
the board shortly before I went to 
church. "You must swim this time, 
Leon. Don't }T>u wish you could be 
like me? J. . crawled out and 'Took a 
bit squint out the winder' (Quoting 



78 LETTERS FROM ROY 

from a Scotch song) and said, I am 
going to stay in." 

In a day or two after this I did re- 
ceive a letter from the young man men- 
tioned, who, in the same, said that he 
had done just as Koy said he had on 
Sunday morning. 

Before we sat down in the evening 
Mr. Stevens was reading from a book, 
concerning the foundations of man's 
eternal life. "I guess you have as good 
as any. I think ma will like her pic- 
ture. (This referred to the painting 
which was made of him, concerning 
which more is found in another part of 
the book. ) 

"T . . . Poor old T . . . He is shaky, but 
happy* He talks with some of us all 
the time." 

Jan. 15th. "Every man's belief is 
right as long as it doesn't leave out 
God. If it comprises God it cannot 
fail him. 'No man cometh to the Father 
but by Me.' " This last was in re- 
sponse to a mental question by father, 
as to what constitutes the Christ atti- 
tude. 

Jan. 16th. "Tell J... I gave him 
away! (Jan. 13th.) Tell him I was 
right there that night he felt me, and I 



LETTERS FROM ROY 79 

wished lie could see me. You ought to 
see how interested the spirit friends 
are in mv book." 

Jan. 23. "Now do you see why I sent 
you to that church? We laughed at 
ma last summer when she stood on 
River St., waiting for the Hyde Park 
car. She had to find out the name of 
that church. We thought she was 
going back without seeing." 

The incident referred to happened 
before mother made her trip out to the 
place where we now live, concerning 
which more will be found elsewhere. 
She came back to Dorchester and said 
that she had seen a very pretty little 
church at M . . . , and thought I would 
like it. 

His first message on January 23rd 
refers to a statement I made that I felt 
more at home in that church, than in 
any other I had ever attended, it seems 
on account of the highly Spiritual at- 
mosphere which pervades it, as well as 
the "Homey" feeling. 

Jan. 24th. "Anarchy and Socialism 
are slowly meeting the fate that be- 
longs to such ideas. Pretty weak 
against such a power as you and many 



80 LETTERS FROM ROY 

others feel. She is feeling mighty mean 
tonight, but don't worry." 

This referred to a lady of my ac- 
quaintance, who had been at home, sick 
for a few days. I had no knowledge as 
to how sick she was, and asked Roy, 
with the above result. The next day, 
I found that she had felt just as he had 
said, but in a few days more was much 
better. 

Jan! 26th. "In a nutshell." This 
meant the writings before you, which 
he desired put in as condensed form 
as possible, yet containing enough in- 
formation to fulfill his purpose. 

"Maybe some folks on this side are 
not pleased. Go to bed and think about 
what you have started." This last re- 
ferring to an important conversation I 
had that day, concerning the book. 

Jan. 27th. Q. Anything to say about 
V. . yet? (Naming a Eailroad man 
who had passed away very suddenly, 
shortly before. ) 

Ans. "That's what the matter is. 
Upset the whole crowd. They are all 
guessing if it will be their turn next." 

The board worked very hard that 
night, and there seemed to be a strange 



LETTERS FROM ROY 81 

feeling in the air, which he explained 
as above. 

Jan. 2Sth. "However you may be 
tempted, stick to the truth, about these 
things especially. The whole truth 
and nothing but the truth goes. Didn't 
I have fun with you this A. M.? Say, 
I almost gave up trying to make ma 
understand. Trying to make you for- 
get your aches. (This was Sunday 
morning, and I was sleeping rather 
later than usual. Mother was on the 
point of calling me, when my brother 
told her to "Play a record." She did 
so, and just as I came downstairs, she 
put on one humorous song, quite wide- 
ly known, which deals quite in detail 
with a lazy Sunday morning, and is the 
Scotch song referred to some days ago ! 
Remember, she is not familiar with our 
system of numbering our record books, 
and simply took one at random each 
time. She continued for some time, 
and we had considerable amusement at 
the results. His message above gives 
the reason for doing this unusual 
"stunt", namely, to help mother to for- 
get her physical sufferings.) Call 
Aunt G . . , and tell her to call Hyde 
Park, also about V..." When I did 



82 LETTERS FROM ROY 

so, I found that my aunt had been call- 
ing the wrong exchange, consequently 
could not locate us. This he discover- 
ed, and corrected as above. 

I speak of this trifling incident mere- 
ly to show how simple it is for them to 
straighten us out in any matter, small 
or otherwise, if we but can get into 
communication with them. 

"How did you happen to go to Mr. 
H. ., I wonder? Such a lark. Ma, I 
am having more fun than I ever did 
when in the physical body." 

Mr. H. . . is a man to whom I took 
this work for inspection, and whom T 
afterwards found knew many of our 
townspeople. 

I speak of this because it is another 
illustration of the manner in which we 
can be guided about in our daily affairs. 

This is a common trick of my broth- 
er's, to speak afterwards about some- 
thing I had done, and had not realized 
at the time that someone was helping 
me. I am somewhat used to it now^, 
and when anything out of the ordinary 
happens, I can usually rely on getting 
some comment on it, and which some- 
times brings the laugh on me ! 

Jan. 30th. "I guess when they read 



LETTERS FROM ROY 83 

niy book, they will say, as A. . . did, 
that we were inseparable. There is 
something I am going to tell yon later. 
A man with a domino says hello. (We 
thought this was Mr. C . . , who did it 
for a joke. ) I thought I would spring 
something original. That was not all. 
I want to warn yon tAvo. A hold-np. 
(The sequel to this will be fonnd on 
February 3rd.) 

Jan. 31. "Uncle H. . says I am qnite 
a manager. Some one here from More- 
land St. That babe is a darling. Oh, 
why don't folks see! 

(Message received here abont the 
war but it is not neutral. ) "There are 

pthers just the same. . Only one 

of manv. Bnt wait. That is all I am 
allowed to say. Nuf? O K. Think 
the best things for that man Wilson." 
(Kef erring to the war.) 

Feb. 3rd. "Dad broke the latch, or 
I did. That nail did the trick. You 
would not have heard him if he hadn't 
had such a bother with that nail. His 
name is Ben. He is taller than dad, 
thinner, and some crook." Q. Did he 
do any damage elsewhere last night? 
Ans. "He is too slick. They'll get him. 
He knows this section. Capt. B. . was 



84 LETTERS FROM ROY 

on." (Eef erring to a former Boston 
Police Captain. ) Q. Will lie show up 
again tonight? Ans. "I shall make a 
racket if he don't." 

On Friday, February 2nd, father 
came home in the afternoon, with his 
arms full of bundles, and when he came 
in, failed to latch the front storm door. 
He had hardly reached the kitchen, 
when the door blew back with terrific 
force, breaking the thumb latch, which 
passes thro' the door, and lifts the 
catch. As a substitute, to use in open- 
ing the door until he could get a new 
latch, he placed a six inch nail in the 
hole which formerly held the latch. 
This of course was awkward in hand- 
ling. 

That night, at 1:30 A. M., mother 
woke suddenly, hearing a slight noise, 
she thought. She rose, to see if by an} r 
chance it were caused by our cat. He 
was quiet, but was sitting up, eyes wide 
open. Mother stood in the upstairs 
hall a minute, listening. Again came 
this slight rattle. Quickly she pulled 
on the light, and called Mr. Stevens. 

On doing so, she heard footsteps hur- 
rying away over the snow. She did not 
think to look out the window, until 



LETTERS FROM ROY 85 

after she had aroused niy father. Then 
the man had gone. 

This was a case where our spirit 
friends were "right on the job/' and 
able to let us know it. We were on the 
watch for something of the sort, 
although not thinking of house-break- 
ing so much as a street hold-up. 

The warning was given us three 
nights before it happened, and on the 
day that it was to happen, the door 
latch, apparently thro 3 an accident, was 
put into such a condition that an extra- 
ordinary make-shift had to be used, 
thereby causing enough noise when the 
time came, to accomplish their pur- 
pose! 

To say that we were pleased is put- 
ting it rather lightly, when we dis- 
covered that we were "Burglar-proof." 

Another thing. Xone of us got the 
slightest look at the man, but just the 
same we got the above description of 
him, with enough information to satis- 
fy us that should he attempt it again 
there would be "Something doing." 

Feb. 4th. "H. . will think this is 
something he had better have. (Kef er- 
ring to the attempt to enter our home. ) 
Congress is busy these days. They 



86 LETTERS FROM ROY 

can't play much. They all feel a great 
respect for Wilson. Critics are willing 
to keep still. Yon will hear of a crime 
committed." 

Feb. 5th. "How did that suit 
last night? Some Zeppelin, ain't I? 

(The night before we were sitting in 
the dark for a few minutes, and heard 
a slight rap on my father's chair, as I 
thought, and said so when mother ask- 
ed w r hat it was. The words were hard- 
ly out of my mouth when we nearly 
jumped out of our chairs, because there 
came a terrific crack in the front hall 
near us. It was more like a pistol shot 
than it was a rap, and by far the loud- 
est we have ever had. I suppose he did 
it to show us how easily he could waken 
us if need be.) 

"She don't make much noise but .... 
(We spoke of the little girl then.) She 
got me all right. You had better be- 
lieve I was some pleased, and if my 
breath could have been taken away it 
sure would." 

Feb. 6th. "Notice tomorrow's pa- 
pers. Don't worry about what you 
may see or hear." "Oh, my ! I have got 
to take my chance quick. Koy is so 



LETTERS FROM ROY 87 

sober." (Kutli.) "I guess you will 
tliink so. I said don't worry." 

He seemed very sober this evening, 
and after quite a personal talk, asked 
for some music. The next day we of 
course looked for the papers, and sup- 
posed for a while that he was disturbed 
at the war news. 

But when father and I reached home 
at night, mother showed us the Taun- 
ton paper, and the death notice of a 

young man named This boy 

was a great friend of Roy's, and we 
were very familiar with his name, 
through hearing Ro} r speak of him so 
many times, while we were in Taunton. 
This is what sobered him, as will be 
noticed by the following two days' mes- 
sages. ,- j if sjjUl 

Feb. 7th. "Now you know about last 
night. If you were shocked, if possible 
they were more so, and they do not 
realize that he is still at home with 
them. (He meant if we were shocked 
at the time Roy went, and that we had 
realized that he was still with us.) 

"I have been watching I 

knew he was coming, and of course I 
was pleased; but I went to his home 
and tried to warn them. I think he 



88 LETTERS FROM ROY 

will get near his mother. I can help 
him, I think." Q. Can we? Ans. 
"You will know. I have been thinking. 
He was a good boy, but he should have 
been home. His mother wanted him 
home, but he was ambitious. Now give 
us more music. I can't forget that 
family." 

Feb. 8th. "S. . W. . was down there 
with us today. You would not want to 
be in that house tonight. I shall go 
with . . . when he wants me to. He 
wants them to know that he is there, 
just the same as I did you folks, but 
their grief is going to make it hard. 
They are so shocked. Ma, we were 
more blessed than I can tell you. H. . . 
You will probably hear from him to- 
morrow, if all goes right. I may have 
to go with . . . any time for a while. 
Sure, S . . . and I were there with 
others, but we were right there so that 
he saw us among the first. O K for 
now. I may have some more later." 

Feb. 9th. " . . . is trying so hard. 
He feels so good and they feel so bad. 
It takes the smile all out of him; but 
his mother stopped and said it can't be 
so. That is a good beginning. It takes 
these mothers to find that out. (He 



LETTERS FROM ROY 89 

seemed to think that as long as . . . 's 
mother said that it could not be so, that 
it would not be such a difficult task to 
have her learn the truth about her 
boy.) ; i ! 

"Peace is the one cry, now that Wil- 
son says fight." 

Feb. 10th. "Jerry, a fireman who 
was killed at a Boston fire comes with 
H. . M. .. (At this point I called the 
folk's attention to our cat, who had 
been racing around, as is usual during 
some part of nearly every one of our 
sittings. He was staring up into 
a corner of the room, near the ceiling, 
in a very strange manner ; then he sud- 
denly started and ran upstairs. I re- 
marked that perhaps my sister had 
"ducked" down after him.) "I did not 
duck. I floated. Wouldn't you like to? 
Why cannot you see if Billy can? When 
ma shuts her eves at night she can." 

Feb. 11th. "Accident, Blue Hill Av. 
You will be surprised sometime this 
week. Watch out for it. (We were, 
at two separate times.) 

"Lucky ma and I were so much alike 
now, wasn't it? You would all be stag- 
gering around, not knowing which way 
to look for what you now find coming 



90 LETTERS FROM ROY 

your way. Say, that picture on the . . 
magazine is all right. Ruth laughed 
at that. It seems so good that we 
know you are going to listen for us 
every night and know that we are ready 
when you are." 

Feb. 12th. We expected company 
this evening and sat upstairs in Boy's 
room. While father was reading just 
as we started, there came a sharp 
knock just back of my head, on the 
wall. I jumped, and for fun clapped 
my hand to the back of my neck and ex- 
claimed, "Right in the neck !" 

"You bet you, right in the neck, and 
he can't hit back or smash my derby. 
(Referring to one time when I pushed 
his derby down over his head while 
fooling. ) 

"Did you find out about Blue Hill 
Ave.? (We puzzled over it for a few 
minutes, and none could remember see- 
ing a word in the papers about any- 
thing of the sort. We usually do this 
when told of something coming, in the 
nature of news which is of general 
interest.) Didn't?" 

Feb. 13th. "Blue Hill Ave. (We 
had seen nothing yet concerning it.) 
Oh, say! It ran into Mattapan Sq. ! 



LETTERS FROM ROY 91 

(Another habit of both him and myself 
was to come home and spring some- 
thing of the sort on mother. ) 

"... would hare laughed good, only 
his folks feel so bad he can't smile. It 
pleased Patsy when he found out. 
(This was the fellow spoken of 
before, who used to frequent the Bail- 
road station at Boston.) 

"G ... is trying to help .... We want 
you to compose a letter soon. You 
three. You want to hear of an acci- 
dent? Don't be looking for them. My 
kind are the safest." 

Feb. 14th. "Harry comes and goes. 
He is a messenger. (This is the little 
boy who joined our band some few 
months ago. We were told that he 
came from Colorado.) He likes to be 
here only it is hard to make you realize 
he is around unless we speak his name." 

Feb. 15th. "Watch ye. Stand fast. 
Quit you like men. Be strong. Oh, 
say. This is the life, and when Leon 
has a chance to tell . . .'s folks, I think 
it will be his sister, we shall feel 
mighty good. Xow ma, you got what I 
meant about Kalph. Asa. F . . and B . . 
will have a chance to think a little. 
(About the progress shown concerning 



92 LETTERS FROM ROY 

this publication.) O K. Don't forget 
I am very happy because I am getting 
where I want to, and . . . says if we 
will only help him. He comes here 
with me to see what we do, and to hear 
the music. O K." 

Feb. 16th. "I've set the ball rolling, 
and I guess before long they will think 
I have got the whole alley going. This 
is going to touch more than one class. 
That is why I wanted to know every- 
body. (That was his habit while in 
the body, to make friends with every- 
one.) 

Feb. 17th. About an hour before our 
session this evening we mentioned the 
name of a New Haven Kailroad en- 
gineer during the conversation. 

While father was reading and we 
were in position at the board, waiting, 
we felt a sharp snap under the little 
table, something that has happened but 
once before. When he started he said, 
"A. . wanted me to do that. (A. . was 
the engineer mentioned above.) 

"The letter was very gratefully re- 
ceived. We are glad. Know what 
that means? You want to know who 
took Leon upstairs when he wrote his 
part? a.. S... (The letter is the 



LETTERS FROM ROY 93 

one he had us send to the family of . . . , 
mentioned during the last few days, 
and in which we each had a share in 
the writing. Gr . . S . . it will be remem- 
bered is the former Choirmaster men- 
tioned several times.) Tell them what 
I've said about it sometime. . . . feels 
so bad you can't get him away at all. 
We don't try because we know it takes 
about so long. Gr. . and I try to help 
him all we can. Gr . . and I took you to 
R. . H. .." (Naming a man concerned 
in the publication of this book.) 

Feb. 18th. "I've made you under- 
stand a lot in the last 11 months. Aunt 
J. ., how do you like the chromo?" 

It was Sunday afternoon, and my 
aunt was visiting us, being present 
during our sitting. The "chromo" was 
his picture on the wall in the living- 
room, and which she had been studying 
just before he said it. Then the next 
message was from my little sister, who 
said, "'Hello, Aunt J... You don't 
know me, do you? Well, I am like ma 
when she was little." 

We had a long session today, but it 
dealt almost entirely with family af- 
fairs. 

Feb. 19th. "As a man soweth, so 



94 LETTERS FROM ROY 

shall he reap. The book is making an 
impression. (He meant the manu- 
script.) Aunt J. . got more than she 
could carry home. She wants to come 
again." 

Feb. 20th. "I am glad that mercy is 
free. Yes, that would be the last thing 
that many would buy if they had to pay 
out cash for it." 

He is here referring to the present 
disturbance over the high cost of living, 
and takes the opportunity to give a 
little bit of wisdom. 

He then started in and gave us the 
following information concerning the 
present war, and the difficulties which 
our President is having in order to 
keep this country safe from serious 
trouble. I want to take this time to 
say that Roy was a boy who never be- 
lieved in fighting, and hated it in 
others. That is, it disgusted him to see 
a display of "I'm going to be first" 
spirit. The following will give, once 
and for all, his opinion of those who do 
believe in it, whether they be king or 
poor man, and will settle the question 
which many will ask, "Why, if he gives 
so much information from the other 
world, does he not speak more about 



LETTERS FROM ROY 95 

the war, as many a young man would 
do?" 

"If any one wants to know why I 
don't talk war, tell him straight from 
the shoulder that I do not believe in 
lighting. If all the kings and kaisers 
that ever breathed in this beautiful 
world all want to fight to be first, (that 
is what they really want,) I have not 
one particle of respect for it. I am 
worse than Bryan or Henry Ford ever 
thought of being ; and it is not what the 
Man of all men would do. And you 
know, ma, that what I had no respect 
for, I did not soil my mind or hands 
with. And I will tell you this, that the 
ones who are trying to drag the great 
man at the helm in (President Wilson) 
have got more than the}^ know anything 
about to deal with. They don't stop to 
think. If they could be made to real- 
ize that they have Abraham Lincoln to 
reckon with. A man who believed in 
God, and showed it by his life. You 
don't have to ask about that. That's 
all right, ma, we will help you to rest. 
(The board was working with such 
speed and apparent power behind it 
that it was fast tiring her. I myself 
was feeling unusually strained, if that 



96 LETTERS FROM ROY 

is the way to express it.) And with 
Lincoln are some of the greatest souls 
this world has ever known. Don't 
worry about the H C of L, or the war, 
because 'God's in His Heaven and all's 
right with the world' Hello. (This 
was Kuth. ) O, dear ! I do not like to 
have Hoy so serious. I took Harry and 
Marion upstairs to Eoy's room." 

Feb. 21st. "Sleep well last night, 
ma? Guess you want some more. But 
we don't think it best." 

It is true, that we hoped he would 
give us a good session this evening, but 
it will be seen that he did not think it 
best. Later we could see why, because 
mother, although having had a good 
rest, still was in no condition for a long 
sitting. I myself had had an unusually 
hard day at the office, and was quite 
tired. However, he made up for it on 
the next day, the 22nd, being a holiday 
and giving him a good chance to do so. 

"Asa says good evening." (A form- 
er railroad conductor. ) 

Q. by Mr. Stevens. Is the boat train 
on time? Ans. "Is it?" "He says, I 
do not bother with them very often 
now. Oh, say ! I wish I could tell you 
a lot that I want to, but she will not let 



LETTERS FROM ROY 97 

me vet. (Aunt Sara.) She is so fine 
and calm we want to do as she says. 
(The next is from Kuth.) He says I 
must not tire ma tonight. He wants to 
use her tomorrow. Billy does not want 
to play. He went upstairs tonight. 
Dad, I was home. Koy picked them 
out. (Referring to a pair of slippers 
bought for mother, and about which 
father asked a question, as to whether 
or not she helped him pick them out.) 
I shall be glad when you all get over on 
our side. You wait. Better all turn 
in early. Music first. O K." 

Feb. 22nd. "There shall be no night 
there, neither sorrow nor suffering. 
They who are wise will be prepared, 
for God knoweth all. Nothing can be 
hidden. Some will have all to learn 
because they have literally thrown 
away their time and bodies, and 
brought dishonor on many, instead of 
using their God-given talents and abil- 
ities for what they knew was right. 

"And no other person can stand in 
your place. You have got to stand on 
your own feet. Everyone has got to 
learn their own lessons, either in your 
life or this one, and the sooner they 
begin the better it will be for them. 



98 LETTERS FROM ROY 

You can pay with money for anything 
you want done, except your own soul's 
salvation; and, that, no man can do 
for you. i ! | 

"The sooner you realize what the 
man Christ means to you the better. 
It has to come to everyone before he 
begins to learn. 

"If called to war, I think every true 
American will be ready to do his part. 
But the mothers ! No one knows how 
their prayers have ascended to Heaven 
for a long time now. 

"If there is war in this country many 
will pass on, and they won't go in the 
battle. They will go of broken hearts. 

"But don't worry. We know more 
than we are allowed to tell. 

"I want to get my messages going as 
soon as you can now, and later I will 
give more." Here Kuth came on and 
said, "And now I am coming if Eoy has 
finished that serious (here she paused 
a moment or two, while we were won- 
dering what would be the word she 
would use) ....stuff. You see how quiet 
we have been. When Koy looks so 
serious I go right away because I don't 
like to bother him. But I shall be glad 
when he is through with it." Here, 



LETTERS FROM ROY 99 

Koy came back on and said, "0 K now. 
She lias told you how she sees your 
life." 

As you will remember, she has never 
been in this life, and consequently 
seems to be able to look on it in its 
real light, as compared with the real 
life there. 

Feb. 26th. "Always keep the cross 
before your mind's eye. It helps out of 
manY treacherous places." 

Feb. 27th. "Oh, I can't wait, but 
Aunt ^Nellie said last night I must try 
and be patient till just the right time 
comes. (About his book.) Say, you 
know I've got friends all over the 
country, and if they hear what I've been 
doing they will stop, look, and listen. 
Well, ma is getting so that when she 
wakes up nights she thinks of the book, 
and then she thinks some more, and I 
don't think you will get much for a 
while but the kind of stuff the kid likes, 
and you know what that is ! 

"Xow we want some light music that 
Euth and I both like. She is tired of 
serious things. I shall be home more 
now for she wants me to." 

March 1st. "Why isn't Sweden try- 
ing to fight the United States? Because 



100 LETTERS FROM ROY 

they try to follow the Christ man. 
Unless they happen to he bad, which is 
not common." 

March 4th. "Say, he's great. (Kev. 
Mr. H . . , who passed away very sud- 
denly last summer.) Saw him today. 
Made myself known and he said, 'Why, 
I met your brother at Pilgrim Church. 
Well, I'm glad to meet you, son, and 
will you give my love to your brother, 
and to Mr. and Mrs. W...? Thank 
you, my boy, and we'll meet again soon, 
I hope/ (Every word of this sounds 
just as he would speak, in his hearty, 
friendly way, and just as I heard him 
three Sunday nights last early summer, 
at the Church mentioned. The Mr. and 
Mrs. W. . . are relatives of ours, who 
knew Mr. H . . very well and often went 
to hear him preach.) Now, if Uncle 
H. . . doesn't believe that's me I will 
try a more strenuous way ! C . . . says 
of course he knows it's you, and tell 
him just to wait till he gets over on this 
side and we will show him what real 
living is." 

March 6th. "Generals Lee and Sher- 
man are on the anxious seat just now, 
ready for a chance. McKinley is with 
Wilson, and he says, 'We have been too 



LETTERS FROM ROY 101 

proud of him to let a few bother him, 
when they know better, and there is 
more than one that's got the number, 
and we are all watching to see when 
the crisis comes, for come it will. 

'Germany could go on quite a while 
longer in the way she has been going if 
the only power was man's, but just so 
sure as there is a kaiser and a Ger- 
many, and I must add, a Wilson, so 
there is an Almighty God to be reckon- 
ed with, and seeing it from our side it 
is a different matter/ 

"I should like to say more but you 
must be patient and just trust, and 
don't fear for America. Your idea of 
children playing and learning — and 
fighting — is what we call pretty near 
right as we see your life. 

"Now give us some music." 

March 7th. "Hello. Koy is not ready 
yet so Miss Euth Stevens takes his 
place, as she does some others! You 
say war, and I go. I don't like to see 
or hear one thing about it, dad." (Then 
Koy.) I am planning your trip to 
Taunton. Don't think it will be this 
week. It may. There is a psychological 
moment for everything, and if people 
would realize that, there would not be 



102 LETTERS FROM ROY 

nine-tenths of the so-called mistakes 
made. Six of us made the change 
(passed over) in a short time, and more 
coming, I cannot say just how soon. 
H. . says he don't know as they would 
believe it if he sends a message, but he 
would like for them to know that he has 
been assigned to the work of building 
up where he tore down, for which he is 
very glad. He is now trying to help 
them all, for he thought a great deal 
more of them than they knew. So he 
says if your brother wants to he shall 
be much pleased. Don't think about 
going, but be so you can go when I tell 
you. You have got to be wise in your 
remarks to people about these things. 
OK." 

March 8th. He gave us the name 
Eussell this night, and on March 13th, 
Rye days later, we saw in our paper 
where a man he used to know, whose 
name was Eussell, was married, this 
being the first we knew of it. "Patsy 
says 'Hello, boy, how are you tonight? 
Was down along the line Tuesday. Had 
a little snow.' (Mr. Stevens mention- 
ed a letter coming from the Hawaiian 
Islands.) 'It sure was some letter,' 



LETTERS FROM ROY 103 

He says ; 'Coming from away out there 
almost off the map.' " 

March 9th. "Good news. I know 
what it is." The rest of the messages 
this evening were personal. 

March 10th. "Unknown commits sui- 
cide. Unknown? Don't go to Tannton 
tomorrow. Keep your ears open. See 
more than you say. Lettie. She 
feels bad every time she thinks about 
me. Oh, say! Wait till my book gets 
ready. They will all think I have been 
fooling them. Say, you ought to have 
seen .... (A man to whom I wrote a 
five sheet typewritten letter at Koy's 
dictation and suggestion, on this sub- 
ject.) He did not know for a minute 
whether he was going or coming. You 
mustn't send a thing like that to a man 
and expect him to get busy until he gets 
his wind. (Here it struck me forcibly 
as to how my letter must have seemed 
to . . . , and I got to laughing so that I 
cried. Then Euth came on and said, 
"Now I think I had better come, for Roy 
upset you three same as automobiles 
do." Then when we laughed still hard- 
er she said, "Did I?" "Oh, my poor 
Leon, crying. A little music now. O 
K." 



104 LETTERS FROM ROY 

March 11th. "Hello, Carrie and Leon. 
How are you? All right I guess, the 
way things seem around here this A. M. 
I have been out to see By. Pretty 
scared, but he don't need to be. Scott 
and I will be right there when, (he 
paused). And I guess there will be 
enough there to call the station for him. 
(By is a conductor, on the New York, 
New Haven & Hartford Kailroad, and 
my uncle. ) He will have to work along 
a while longer." 

Here Kuth came on and said, "Good 
morning. I haven't seen much of you 
folks for a long time. It must be Aye 
(here she paused) minutes ! ( She was 
running the board slowly and strange- 
ly, so as to fool us into thinking it was 
some one else, and when she said five, 
she then started down almost to the 
letter Y, thereby making us think that 
the word "Years" was coming. You 
can see how she finished up ! ) 

"Now I am not going to let her upset 
you this A. M., 'cause I want Leon to 
go to Church right side up." 

6 :10 P. M. "Dad is going to have a 
suggestion made to him. 3. Things 
coming our way. Yours also." 

March 12. "Believe me for the 



LETTERS FROM ROY 105 

very work's sake. (Kuth now came.) 
My good people, how noisy the wind is 
tonight. (Here I remarked how she 
liked to speak in this way, imitating 
old-time characters in their speech, and 
said that she must have been reading- 
stories.) I have. I guess you would 
think so if you could see our litera- 
ture." 

(Roy now came back.) ... is awake, 
or, conscious, but for heaven's sake 
don't do that to anyone else ! They are 
not all as swift as you." 

He referred to the man to whom I 
sent, at Koy's request, a five page letter 
on this subject, part of it at Koy's dicta- 
tion. As near as I can ascertain, it 
must have been a tremendous surprise 
to the man, from what Roy has said 
since. 

March 13th. "Calvin says you must 
not worry about Byron. He will have 
plenty to look out for him, but he has 
been pretty sick. He has got lots of 
friends both in your life and ours. 
(Here mother remarked that we had 
better write tonight. ) That's what we 
want. I will dictate. (I will give the 
letter in part, as a fair sample of the 
way in which he is steadily doing the 



106 LETTERS FROM ROY 

work lie wants to. ) Tell Mm what Cal- 
vin said, and that Byron, (his son 
Byron is the one referred to here) 
Uncle Levi, Scott and Ed all went out 
to see him, and of course, Grandma. 
Tell him not to worry and that he 
better take a good rest. 

"Tell him I hope it will not make him 
sick to hear from me, as it did one man ! 
For I am more real than I ever was in 
that life, and that he need not feel 
sorry that I shook my old clothes ; and 
that I never was meant for that life, 
never was well, and never could have 
been a strong man. If they had suc- 
ceeded in patching it up for a time, I 
would not have been happy, knowing 
that it was only a matter of time. I 
am very happy, or will be when I get 
ma well, and don't be afraid of what 
you call death. It is life. 

"If you dare read this I may write 
again some day, but you have been 
helped many times from this side, or 
you would not be in that body. See 
you again, Boy." 

Buth came home then, having appar- 
ently been out with father, and said, 
"Hello. O, my, what has Boy said?" 

March 14th. "Do you folks know 



LETTERS FROM ROY 107 

Harvey ?" He gave us this name a few 
days before, and we could not place it. 
On this date Mr. Stevens brought home 
a magazine with an article in it very 
interesting to us, and the writer's first 
name was Harvey. 

"George says how is the boy coming 
along with the material? Shall not 
give much tonight. Gave enough last 
night." 

March 16th. "Give that to some 
paper tomorrow." (Some material I 
wrote on this subject. ) Get ready for 
a long talk Saturday. Think you wiU 
go to Taunton Sunday. Phil gets his 
message. 

"... 's folks I want to talk about to- 
morrow.'' 

March 17th. "I have been there to- 
day when some of them were there. 
It's great fun to travel where you like. 

"Do as you please about Taunton. (I 
had two families whom I found he 
wanted me to make acquainted with 
the work we were doing, families in 
which he knew some member well, and 
which I planned to visit the next day, 
if the weather should be at all favor- 
able. ) 

"Pick out things you think would con- 



108 LETTERS PROM ROY 

vince them. Write them down. Not 
too much. Too much is apt to cause 
indigestion ! As . . . can testify. 

"Tell , . . 's folks that you have come 
on a strange mission, but feel that per- 
haps you might bring them a bit of 
comfort, especially as you were asked 
to do it. Tell about our first coming 
back to Boston, so different. All felt 
lost." (He gave us a few details as to 
what he wished made known to them, 
and the next morning, March 18th, he 
gave the message for the other young 
man whom I felt pretty sure I would 
meet. ) 

March 18th. "Tell P . . if he is there 
that you have been getting messages 
from this side ever since, you know 
when. Tell him I was there that Sun- 
day (of his own funeral) and helped 
fix the music, (Which was his custom 
at Church) but I didn't know who for. 
I kept asking him but he didn't seem 
to answer. Tell him I was one of 
those who met H . . . He is going to help 
them all as fast as he gets strong 
enough. Tell them carefully, he says. 
He says not to doubt. I always told 
the truth, and this is all truth. I'll go 
with him, ma, so don't worry !" 



LETTERS FROM ROY 109 

March 18th, 9 P. M. "Oh, say! I've 
had some time today. I thought I 
would split ! ... (Here he mentioned 
a man's name. This man had approach- 
ed me during the day, asked me how I 
was, and suddenly asked, "How is your 
brother?" I was not sure that I had 
caught it, and I asked him what he 
said. He repealed, "How is your broth- 
er?" And then he thought ! He realized 
in an instant what he had done, and, 
although his expression did not change, 
I saw the whole story in his eyes, and 
I understood that he would have given 
worlds to bring the words back, think- 
ing, naturally, that I would feel hurt 
at having my brother recalled in such 
a way. I of course would have, once, 
but this time I understood just what 
had happened, and, while I pitied the 
man, and would have helped him out if 
I could, still it was not the right time ! 

Strange as it may seem to some, the 
only thing to spoil the joke, for such it 
really was, was the fact that the man 
himself could not be set straight in the 
matter. 

Some time, though, he will know, and 
look upon the incident in a different 
light from that in which he saw it at 



110 LETTERS FROM ROY 

that time. It can easily be seen how 
it struck Koy, though, for I give his 
next remark below. ) 

"Some sweet day in the near future 
he will remember, and guess again." 
He gave us several personal messages 
concerning the day's doings, and spoke 
then about the flowers on the table. 

"Those peas are fine, dad. I've been 
hustling, and haven't had time before. 
Old top keeps me spinning." He used 
to call me this once in a while, and felt 
so good over the day's work that he 
could not keep serious. "Now don't 
worry how things are coming out, ma. 
All your planning went in a hole. You 
can't push us." 

March 19th. "How do you like do- 
ing the world's work? That . . . case 
puzzles us. We will find a way out, 
though." 

March 20th. "W. .. That copy, he 
says, is all right if you change a few 
little things. You three read it to- 
gether and we will show you. There 
are more than just us that want that 
printed, and we are going to have it. 
Just be patient." 



LETTERS FROM ROY 111 



CONCERNING THE PICTUKE. 

It has been a source of great regret 
to the family that, although a photo- 
graphic record has been kept of Koy 
from the age of five up to seventeen 
years, after which time no photograph 
existed, to our knowledge, that repre- 
sented him as he was at the time of his 
passing. 

On one occasion mother, feeling his 
influence about her, said, "Oh, Eoy, 
can't you get me a picture of you as you 
were?" 

Immediately the impression came 
strongly to her, "Look in my box." The 
box is one in which his boyish treas- 
ures, books, etc., had been packed away. 
She did so, and found a small Church 
magazine containing a group photo- 
graph of the Hector and Choir of the 
Church he had attended, his face show- 
ing quite clearly in the back of the 
group. 

Xone of us knew of the existence of 
the picture, not having seen the mag- 



112 LETTERS FROM ROY 

azine, and lie not having made mention 
of it. 

The photographer was located, and a 
two-inch enlargement obtained. 

The remark was made on the board, 
"You will get a picture you will like, 
ma." In the course of a few months 
an artist reproduced his features in 
the most lifelike portrait we could 
wish, this same artist coming to our 
attention in response to a most urgent 
request from us, and in an apparently 
roundabout way. 

I speak of this point, not only as a 
link in the chain, but as one which is 
very important to us, and on which, 
when we so earnestly asked, we obtain- 
ed the desired result. It teaches one 
to have faith in all things, great or 
small, and what we desire, if it is good 
for us, we shall receive. "Ask, and it 
shall be given unto you." 

I believe that it is at this point that 
this first book is to be closed. 

It is our earnest hope that not only 
a few, but many, may be helped by it, 
may be given a little insight, which per- 
haps they did not have before, and 
thereby know that by living rightly 



LETTERS FROM ROY 113 

while here in the body, they may receive 
their reward when they leave it. 

If we have given anything that has 
not appealed to some, we trust that all 
will realize that we give what we have 
received, and no more. 

If we have helped some to strengthen 
their faith, we trust that it will not stop 
there, but that each may do as we have 
tried to do, in fact were ordered to 
do — tell others. But, in doing so, 
just one caution — be careful about the 
truth, all of it, and nothing else. We 
realize that distortion is the worst 
thing that can happen to a conrmunica- 
tion in passing from one to another, 
and so on. That, and an inborn desire 
in some for sensationalism, is what has 
hurt true Spiritualism far more than 
anything else in its history. There- 
fore, remember, as told in this work, to 
be always careful of the truth. 

One word more, concerning mother. 
We have been told by Koy that she is 
doing all they intend to have her do, on 
account of her poor health, and it has 
been rather a hard task for her some- 
times during the past few months, and 
it must be remembered that all kind 
thoughts help. 



114 LETTERS FROM ROY 

So, if anyone has been cheered by 
this work, please give her the credit, 
and think kindly of her, for it is 
through her close communion with Eoy 
that the same has been made possible. 



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